Childminder Registration: Scotland versus England, What's Different
Childcare regulation in the UK is devolved, which means Scotland and England run genuinely separate systems: different regulators, different registration bodies, and slightly different terminology. If you're researching how to become a childminder and keep finding conflicting information, it's very likely you're reading guidance for the wrong nation. Here's a clear comparison.
The regulator
- England: Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills), or a registered childminder agency instead of Ofsted.
- Scotland: the Care Inspectorate, Scotland's regulator for care services including childminding.
Where you register
- England: register directly through the Ofsted childcare register, or through a childminder agency.
- Scotland: register with the Care Inspectorate. There's no agency-based alternative equivalent to England's CMA system.
The framework you work to
- England: the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework applies to all registered early years providers, including childminders.
- Scotland: Scotland uses its own early learning and childcare guidance, distinct from EYFS, under the "Realising the Ambition" framework and the National Care Standards, now largely superseded by the Health and Social Care Standards.
Qualifications and training
Both nations require paediatric first aid and safeguarding training before registration, and both expect an understanding of child development and health and safety. The specific approved course lists differ between the two regulators, so always check the current requirements with the Care Inspectorate if you're in Scotland, or Ofsted/your local authority if you're in England, rather than assuming a course approved in one nation automatically counts in the other.
Ratios
Child-to-adult ratios for childminders differ between the two nations and by age group. This is a common source of confusion for anyone reading generic "childminder ratio" guidance online without checking which nation it applies to. Always confirm current ratios directly with your regulator, as they're reviewed from time to time.
Registration fees
Both Ofsted and the Care Inspectorate charge registration and ongoing fees, reviewed periodically. Check the current fee schedule directly with the relevant regulator rather than relying on a number you've seen quoted elsewhere, since these are updated from time to time.
What stays the same
Whichever nation you're in, the core of the job doesn't change: you'll need a DBS check (called a PVG, Protecting Vulnerable Groups scheme, in Scotland; see the difference below), a suitable home, insurance, and solid paperwork covering your contract and policies before you take on your first family.
Whichever nation you're registering in, GoChildmind generates a full contract and policy set from a single survey about your setting, so this part of the setup is covered.
DBS versus PVG
England uses the DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) enhanced check. Scotland uses the PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) scheme instead, run by Disclosure Scotland. They serve the same underlying purpose, checking your suitability to work with children, but they're administered by different bodies and aren't directly interchangeable if you're moving between nations.
If you're moving between nations
If you're already registered in one nation and moving to the other, you'll need to register afresh with the relevant regulator, since registration doesn't transfer automatically between Ofsted and the Care Inspectorate. Contact the regulator you're moving to as early as possible to understand what from your existing qualifications and checks will carry over.
Regulatory bodies, fees, and requirements are reviewed periodically and can change. Always confirm current requirements directly with Ofsted for England or the Care Inspectorate for Scotland before making decisions based on this article.