The Magic of Childminding
The magic of childminding was put in the spotlight during Childminding Week this year, which gave a much needed lift to the work that childminders do, and Coram Pacey's extensive report, The Magic of Childminding, captures exactly why that work deserves celebration.
The Rt Hon Bridget Philipson MP, Secretary of State for Education, summed it up well: childminders sit at the heart of the early years system, providing high-quality, flexible care where children can thrive from their earliest days (Coram Pacey, 2026). With childminder numbers declining in recent years, that message needs to reach as many people as possible. Here's a closer look at what makes childminding so distinctive.
Flexibility
Childminders build their work around the needs of whole families, not just the children in their care. That means adapting routines, managing pick-ups and drop-offs, and offering a range of funding arrangements to suit different circumstances. Many also offer babysitting alongside childminding, which works well given the trust already built and the child's existing familiarity with their carer. In practice, this flexibility might look like:
- Extending hours or days at short notice
- Adjusting plans spontaneously around a child's interests, needs, well-being, or other transitions at home
- Caring for siblings together
- Offering a range of financial arrangements, including funded places, weekly or monthly payments, ad-hoc sessions, tax-free payments and vouchers
Ongoing self-learning
Self-employment means childminders manage their own continuing professional development, together with that of any assistants - including training logs, action plans and evaluations. This takes initiative and a genuine appetite for learning to keep knowledge current and childminders pursue this in several ways:
- Completing online courses
- Reading articles in childcare magazines
- Visiting other settings
- Attending conferences, expos and seminars
- Gathering feedback questionnaires from families
Much of this happens in the childminders' own time, a real mark of dedication to the role and to the families they support, who in turn benefit from regular updates grounded in fresh learning.
Partnership working
Strong partnerships with families sit at the centre of good outcomes for children, and childminders invest heavily in building them, including:
- Signposting support, whether through conversation or more subtly, such as posters on display
- Holding regular meetings to discuss a child's development or address concerns
- Suggesting activities families can try at home to support learning
- Sharing detailed daily feedback on a child's day
- Supporting children through life transitions
- Inviting parents to share ‘wow’ moments observed at home
- Learning a child's home language
Childminders also build strong ties with their local community. At Kids in Motion, for example, the team:
- Organises trips with the people who help us
- Thank those whose work often goes unnoticed
- Visits community gardens weekly
- Celebrates festivals from around the world and takes part in community activities, such as the making and giving of cards
- Shows kindness everywhere, regardless of someone's background
Out-of-hours work
Many jobs end when you leave the building. However, self-employment rarely works that way - giving children full attention during the day is the priority, and that often pushes admin into the evenings, or the gaps while they nap.
The work that follows includes:
- Administration
- Accounts and payroll
- Cleaning, tidying and washing resources
- Risk assessments, checking resources and premises safety
- Shopping
- Researching activities, recipes and trip ideas
Managing assistants
Running a childminding setting often means managing an assistant too, which calls for strong organisation and time management. This is where childminders learn to set clear policies and hold assistants to them, while supporting their development and recognising their strengths. This responsibility covers:
- Conducting appraisals and regular supervision
- Offering support meetings to address concerns
- Keeping assistants up to date on legislation and policy changes
- Providing training so assistants stay competent in areas like safeguarding and child protection
- Delegating a range of tasks while being clear about the limits of an assistant's role
- Balancing a managerial role with an open, friendly working relationship
The benefits run both ways: childminders gain experience in leading a team, find cost-effective ways to bring on apprentices, and build motivation to maintain high professional standards, while modelling positive practice in an outstanding setting.
SENCO and inclusion
We know that children benefit from a blend of one-to-one support and small group activities, with every child getting genuine individual attention. The smaller scale of childminding settings suits children who find noisy, chaotic environments overwhelming or anxiety-inducing. For example:
- A cosy, home-based environment that eases transitions
- A consistent, long-term relationship with a key worker
- Adaptations and extensions tailored to each child's needs
- Smaller numbers of children and more one-on-one interaction
Childminders don't simply look after children, as the phrase sometimes suggests. They go further, working daily to meet the real needs of the families in their care. Every setting is different, but each offers a homely, flexible environment built for inclusive practice. Their work deserves recognition, not just during Childminding Week, but all year-round. This is the magic of childminding.
Over to you: Whether you're a childminder yourself or work alongside one, what's the one part of the magic of childminding you wish more people understood? Championing this work starts with a single conversation.Tell us in the comments below.
Other articles by Priya Kanabar
- Make Maths a Blast for Young Minds!
- Building Healthy Eating Habits In Children From The Start
- Creating Calm Spaces In Early Years
References
- Coram Pacey, Major report showcases the transformative benefits of childminding for children and families amid fears over declining workforce numbers, accessed 18/05/26.
- PACEY, supporting childminders and the wider early years workforce
Thinking about a career in childminding?
Inspired by the magic of childminding and thinking about your own route into the sector, or supporting your team's development? Parenta's childcare training courses help practitioners and childminders build their skills and confidence. Get in touch with our friendly team today, and we'll help you find the right course.
You'll also find more on the early years workforce and inclusive practice on the Parenta blog.
About the author:
Discover expert insights from Priya, a seasoned babysitter, childminder, and dance-fitness teacher in Newham, East London. Her setting's focus is child-led planning, independent learning and a hands-on, outdoor approach.
