New Flexibilities for Childminders

New Flexibilities for Childminders

From 1 November 2024, the Department for Education will be introducing new flexibilities for childminders in England, including:

• Creating a new category of childminder called “childminders without domestic premises” (CwDP). This is for childminders who will work solely from somewhere other than a home, such as a community or village hall. A new title, ‘childminder with domestic premises’ (CWDP) for those working within a home.
• More flexibility for childminders with domestic premises and providers of childcare on domestic premises (COPD) to spend more time operating on non-domestic premises such as a village hall. This is made possible as the requirement to have at least 50% provision in a home will be removed.
• Increasing the total number of people that can work together under a childminder’s registration from 3 to 4 (including the childminder) and CODPs from 4 or more, to 5 or more people.
  The changes will allow for existing ‘childcare on domestic premises’ providers to continue operating with a minimum of 4 people (3 if a person was registered before 1 November 2024).
  These changes are being introduced off the back of Government consultations with the sector over the last 18 months. The increased flexibility is intended to enable childminders to expand their business more easily and help tackle some of the known issues the workforce face such as feeling isolated. It is also seen as a solution to those who have limitations on using their property as a childcare setting. 

It is important to note that these changes will only affect new childminders registering after 1st November 2024 and existing childminders intending to make changes to their business. Childminders not intending to make any changes to their business do not need to take any action. 

Morton Michel will continue to stay up to date with the latest industry developments and requirements, adapting our products as necessary to ensure that we can offer the most appropriate and tailored insurance solution for childminders, regardless of the registration type they choose.

If you are a Morton Michel Childminder policyholder planning on changing your business in response to these new flexibilities, please contact our friendly team on 0330 058 9861 or email customerservice@mortonmichel.com to discuss any potential impact and changes required to your existing Morton Michel Childminder policy. 

More information on the changes for Childminders is available here.