Childminder Insurance for EYS members

Public Liability insurance can help your business cover the costs of claims from third parties for injuries or loss.

There is no cover for fines, penalties and putative awards, and sports involving weapons. You must follow all relevant statutory requirements and take all reasonable precautions to prevent a loss.

Legal Expenses is a way to help your business get access to legal support when you need it. It covers the costs of a legal dispute either made by or against you. It also provides a range of helplines for expert advice on business related legal and tax matters including employment law disputes.

You will not be covered for any claim with a less than 50% prospect of success, legal costs and expenses incurred without the insurers consent and claims not notified in a reasonable time. Helplines are subject to fair and reasonable use.

Childminder Contents provides cover for equipment at your premises, which is used solely in connection with your business, against unexpected loss or damage. For example, fire, theft, water damage and flood.

You will not be covered for the first £100 of any valid claim relating to electrical items and £50 for all other items, theft or attempted theft from unattended vehicles outside of business hours and overnight or wear, tear or depreciation in value.

Professional Indemnity insurance is designed to protect you if a client or customer of yours loses money because of advice or services you've offered in connection with your business.

You will not be covered for claims or circumstances that you are aware of or that have been or should have been reported to a previous policy, bodily injury or property damage other than as provided for under Loss of or Damage to Documents.

Loss of Revenue cover is there to protect against loss of income during periods when you cannot carry out business as usual due to damage to your property.

You will not be covered for any public supply failure which does not involve a cessation of supply for at least 60 consecutive minutes or any deliberate cut-off/withholding of supply services by your gas, electricity, telecommunications and water supplier.

Employers' Liability covers the cost of compensating employees who are injured at or become ill through work due to employers’ negligence.

You must take all reasonable precautions and comply with all relevant statutory requirements and you are not covered for fines penalties and punitive awards. 

A licence to access over 85 RoSPA accredited or CPD-certified online training courses from flick learning.

Free access to a wide range of market-leading retail discounts for you and your family.

You will receive automatic entry to our ChildCare Club; a hub of additional discounts and benefits designed to support you and your business.

ARAG plc provides expert advice on a range of business-related legal and tax matters including employment and law disputes. Helplines are subject to fair and reasonable use and will only incur the cost of the call (unless otherwise stated).

Providing access to 100s of legal documents (with smart document building feature) to assist with running your business.

Access a confidential mental health counselling helpline through ARAG, operated by trained counsellors 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Helplines are subject to fair and reasonable use and will only incur the cost of the call (unless otherwise stated).

Your query will be dealt with by a qualified specialist experienced in handling tax-related matters. This service is available Monday to Friday from 9am - 5pm. Helplines are subject to fair and reasonable use and will only incur the cost of the call (unless otherwise stated).

All childminders need appropriate insurance to comply with obligations set by regulators and local authorities and protect their businesses. Morton Michel's Childminder policy is designed to meet childminders’ insurance needs. To find out more about our specialist Childminder insurance and to obtain a quote, please click here.

It is important to be aware that not all business-use car insurance will cover the transportation of children. Therefore, childminders who use their vehicle to transport children in their care should ensure their motor insurance will allow them to do so. Morton Michel offers specialist motor insurance policies designed for childminders. You can find out more here.

As a childminder, you can make your own arrangements with your clients regarding holiday pay. Morton Michel Childminder policyholders can use ARAG's legal support helpline if they are concerned about what their customers' contractual obligations are. Please see the Policy Summary and Policy Wording for more details of ARAG’s legal support helpline.

Most childminders are sole traders but some choose to incorporate as limited partnerships. Occasionally more than one childminder might work together as a partnership.

Yes, a childminder is a person who provides regulated childcare to children in their own home. Childcarers who look after children in the child's home are known as nannies. Please see details of our specialist Nanny policy here.

Generally, yes, provided it meets the relevant safety requirements, such as appropriate floor space, but you will require your landlord's permission and may need to amend your lease. If you are insured with Morton Michel, you can use ARAG’s legal support helpline for further advice. Please see the Policy Summary and Policy Wording for more details of ARAG’s legal support helpline.

In England, Childminders can work alone or with up to two other childminders or assistants. Those who want to work together in larger numbers need to register with Ofsted as a Childcare on Domestic Premises provider. Different rules apply in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and your local authority may require planning permission to work with another childminder.

Not all childminders have to be registered and different rules apply in each country of the United Kingdom (see below for links to where you can find out more).

Childminders based in England

Childminders based in Scotland

Childminders based in Wales

Childminders based in Northern Ireland

If you do not need to be registered, explore our specialist insurance policy for non-registered childminders here.

It is important that childminders keep up to date with their training. Your local authority can tell you how often you need to refresh your safeguarding training, but it is commonly expected every one to three years. Morton Michel childminder policyholders can access FREE accredited safeguarding training from flick learning.

Morton Michel Childminder policyholders have FREE access to CPD-accredited online training from flick learning which includes safeguarding courses. There is no time limit to complete any flick learning courses, so they can be completed at your own pace, but in line with your local authority rules.

Many local authorities now require childcare providers to take out Professional Indemnity insurance. Please contact your local authority to find out what the requirements are in your area.

All regulated childcare providers in the UK are required to take out Public Liability insurance. Morton Michel's Childminder policy offers an indemnity limit of up to £10 million as standard. You can obtain a quote here.

The number of children a childminder can look after is set by their regulator and generally depends on the children’s ages and how many staff are present.

Families are entitled to come to their own arrangements for childcare. However, government funding can carry restrictions that mean childminders cannot always claim for looking after a close relative's children. All Morton Michel childminder policyholders have access to ARAG's free legal advice line, which can assist with interpreting how regulations apply to their circumstances. Please see the Policy Summary and Policy Wording for more details of ARAG’s legal support helpline.

There are many qualifications you can undertake if you are looking to become a childminder. Your regulator will have published the requirements that apply to you. Please see list of regulators by location below:

• England: Ofsted or a Childminder Agency

• Scotland: The Care Inspectorate (Scotland)

• Wales: The Care Inspectorate (Wales)

• Northern Ireland: Your local Health and Social Care Trust

Government funding schemes are often available for childminders who want to offer these to the families they work with. However, the requirements can change, and you should check with your local authority what is available to you.

Depending on where you live, you will need to register with your local regulator. If you are based in England, you can also choose to register with a Childminder Agency.

Please see list of registering authorities by location below:

• England: Ofsted or a Childminder Agency

• Scotland: The Care Inspectorate (Scotland)

• Wales: The Care Inspectorate (Wales)

• Northern Ireland: Your local Health and Social Care Trust