Childminder insurance: key facts
- Ofsted requires registered childminders to hold public liability insurance. You can't work as a registered childminder in England without it.
- Employers' liability is a legal requirement once you employ an assistant, with at least £5 million of cover. Fines can reach £2,500 a day.
- Cover for a sole childminder often costs roughly £60 to £150 a year (rough guide figure, including 12% Insurance Premium Tax).
- Many standard home insurance policies exclude business use. Tell your home insurer you childmind, or a claim could be refused.
- School runs and outings need business use on your car insurance. Most social, domestic and pleasure policies don't include it.
- Allegation cover matters. Look for legal expenses that cover defending a safeguarding or abuse allegation, even one that turns out to be false.
- Loss of income cover can help if you can't work because your registration is suspended during an investigation or you close for a notifiable disease.
- Rules differ outside England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have their own regulator, so check what yours expects.
What does childminder insurance cover?
Childminder insurance is a bundle of covers built around public liability, which pays claims if a child or anyone else is hurt or has property damaged because of your childminding. Good childminding policies add legal defence for abuse or safeguarding allegations, and can include equipment, loss of income and employers' liability for assistants.
| Cover | What it protects | Who needs it |
|---|---|---|
| Public liability | Claims if a child in your care, a parent or a visitor is injured, falls ill or has property lost or damaged because of your childminding, at home or on outings. | Every registered childminder. Ofsted requires it in England. |
| Abuse and allegation legal defence | Legal costs to defend you if you're accused of abuse, neglect or a safeguarding failure, including at an Ofsted or police investigation. | Every childminder. Check it's included and how much the limit is. |
| Professional indemnity | Claims that your advice, care or a mistake, such as wrong information given to a parent, caused someone a loss. | Childminders who give advice on development, sleep or feeding, or keep records parents rely on. |
| Employers' liability | Claims from an assistant who is injured or made ill while working for you. | A legal requirement once you employ anyone, including part-time assistants. |
| Equipment and toys | Buggies, car seats, cots, outdoor play equipment and toys if they're damaged or stolen. | Childminders with a lot of kit that home insurance won't cover for business use. |
| Loss of income | Lost earnings if you can't work, for example while your registration is suspended or you close because of a notifiable disease. | Childminders who rely on fees to cover their bills. |
| Legal expenses | Legal costs in disputes, such as unpaid fees, contract disagreements or appeals against regulator decisions. | Childminders who want help with disputes beyond injury claims. |
| Business use of your car | Driving children on school runs, nursery pick-ups and outings. | Anyone who drives minded children. Arranged through your motor insurer, not the childminder policy. |
Is childminder insurance a legal requirement?
In England, yes in practice. Ofsted requires registered childminders to hold public liability insurance, and childminder agencies expect the same. Once you employ an assistant, employers' liability insurance is a legal requirement under the Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969.
Childminding in England is regulated under the Childcare Act 2006 framework. If you look after children under 8 for payment in your home for more than two hours a day, you usually need to register. In England you can register either with Ofsted or with a childminder agency. Either way, you're expected to hold public liability insurance and show your certificate when asked.
| Nation | Who you register with | Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| England | Ofsted, or a registered childminder agency | Public liability required for registration |
| Scotland | Care Inspectorate | Requirements differ. Check with the Care Inspectorate |
| Wales | Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) | Requirements differ. Check with CIW |
| Northern Ireland | Your local Health and Social Care Trust | Requirements differ. Check with your Trust |
Across the UK, employers' liability is compulsory once you employ anyone. You need at least £5 million of cover, and you can be fined up to £2,500 for every day you're uninsured. The rules on family members are narrow, so if a relative helps you and you pay them, for example through PAYE, don't assume you're exempt. Ask the broker.
How much does childminder insurance cost?
As a rough guide, a sole childminder often pays roughly £60 to £150 a year for public liability that meets Ofsted's requirement. Adding equipment, legal expenses and loss of income, or employing an assistant, pushes the price up.
| Typical set-up | Rough guide price per year |
|---|---|
| Sole childminder, public liability (Ofsted-compliant) | £60 to £150 |
| Childminder adding equipment, legal expenses and loss of income | £120 to £280 |
| Childminder with an assistant (adds employers' liability) | £180 to £450 |
What affects the price of childminding insurance:
- How many children you care for, and their ages. Babies and toddlers need more care, and more children means more risk.
- Whether you employ an assistant. Employers' liability adds to the cost.
- The limit of public liability. £1 million, £2 million or £5 million. Check what your regulator, agency or local authority funding agreement expects.
- Extras you add, such as equipment, loss of income, legal expenses or personal accident.
Home and car insurance are separate costs. Telling your home insurer you childmind may add a small amount, and business use on your car can raise your motor premium.
Childminder home insurance and childminder car insurance
Your childminder policy doesn't replace your home or car insurance. Tell your home insurer you childmind, because many standard policies exclude business use, and make sure your car insurance includes business use if you drive minded children.
Childminder home insurance. Running a business from home, with children and parents coming in every day, is something your home insurer needs to know about. If you don't tell them, they could refuse a claim or cancel the policy. Some insurers will add childminding for a small extra charge. Others won't, and you'll need to switch. Ask about:
- whether your buildings and contents cover still applies while you childmind
- whether equipment and toys used for childminding are covered, or need cover on your business policy
Childminder car insurance. Driving minded children on school runs, nursery pick-ups or outings is business use. Most social, domestic and pleasure policies don't include it, so a claim could be refused. Ask your insurer to add business use (sometimes called class 1), and tell them you carry children who aren't your own. You also need the right child car seats: children must normally use an appropriate child seat until they're 12 years old or 135cm tall, whichever comes first.
What to check before you buy childminding insurance
Check that the policy meets your regulator's requirement, includes allegation defence, covers outings and school runs, and has limits that match your setting.
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Public liability limit | Make sure it meets what Ofsted, your agency or your local authority expects. Many childminders choose £5 million. |
| Abuse and allegation defence | Check it's included, the limit, and whether it covers police, local authority and Ofsted investigations. |
| Cover away from home | Outings, school runs, toddler groups and holidays with minded children should all be covered. |
| Ages and numbers | Check the policy matches the ages and number of children you're registered for, including before and after school care. |
| Assistants | If you employ anyone, employers' liability must be included, with at least £5 million of cover. |
| Loss of income triggers | Check whether it pays out if your registration is suspended or you close for a notifiable disease, and for how long. |
| Equipment | Check buggies, car seats and outdoor kit are covered, including away from home. |
Many childminding membership organisations bundle insurance with membership. That can be good value, but compare the cover and limits with a standalone policy before you choose.
Ofsted childminder insurance and the rules you work under
Registered childminders in England work under the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) safeguarding and welfare requirements, and Ofsted checks you meet them. Insurance is one part of this.
- Registration. You register with Ofsted or a childminder agency. Ofsted inspects registered childminders and can suspend or cancel registration.
- DBS checks. You, and anyone aged 16 or over who lives or works in your home, need an enhanced DBS check.
- Paediatric first aid. Registered childminders caring for young children need a paediatric first aid certificate. Insurers may also expect it.
- Safeguarding. You must follow safeguarding procedures and know how to report concerns to your local safeguarding partners.
- Notifying Ofsted. You must tell Ofsted about serious accidents, injuries or deaths of children in your care, and certain other events. Tell your insurer about any incident that could lead to a claim, too.
- Childminding outside your home. Working from non-domestic premises, or with three or more other childminders or assistants, can change how you need to register. Check with Ofsted or your agency, and tell your insurer.
In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, different standards and regulators apply. Check with the Care Inspectorate, Care Inspectorate Wales or your Health and Social Care Trust.
Common childminder insurance claims
Most childminder claims involve a child getting hurt, a child becoming ill, damage or loss to someone's property, or an allegation that needs a legal defence. These are realistic examples of what can go wrong.
- The fall in the garden. A toddler falls from a climbing frame and breaks an arm. The parents claim for the injury. Public liability covers the claim.
- The allergic reaction. A child has a reaction to a snack despite allergy information on file. Public liability covers the claim, and your records help show what happened.
- The allegation. A parent reports a bruise and makes an allegation. Your registration is suspended while the local authority and Ofsted investigate. Legal defence cover pays for a solicitor, and loss of income cover helps while you can't work.
- The assistant's injury. Your assistant hurts their back lifting a child into a cot. Employers' liability covers their claim.
- The outbreak. You must close for a week because of a notifiable disease. Loss of income cover, if it includes this, helps replace lost fees.
Starting as a childminder: checklist
Before you take your first child, register with Ofsted or a childminder agency (or the regulator where you live), get insured, tell your home and car insurers, and register with HMRC as self-employed.
- Check the rules where you live and decide who to register with: Ofsted or a childminder agency in England, or the Care Inspectorate, CIW or your Health and Social Care Trust elsewhere.
- Complete paediatric first aid and safeguarding training, and arrange DBS checks for you and anyone aged 16 or over living or working in your home.
- Get public liability insurance with allegation defence, ready to show your regulator.
- Tell your home insurer, and your landlord or mortgage lender if needed.
- Add business use to your car insurance and buy suitable child seats if you'll drive minded children.
- Register as self-employed with HMRC and keep records of income and costs.
- Write contracts and policies: fees, hours, medication, outings, transport, emergencies and photographs.
- Add employers' liability before an assistant starts work.
Why use a broker rather than buying childminder insurance online?
Buying online or through a membership organisation suits many sole childminders. A broker helps when your setting doesn't fit a standard box, such as employing assistants, working with other childminders or offering overnight care.
Standard childminding policies work well for many people. A broker who arranges cover for childminders can be useful if you employ an assistant, work from non-domestic premises, run forest school or other higher-risk activities, care for children overnight, or want the allegation and loss of income cover explained before you buy.
For a wider guide to every type of business cover, see our small business insurance guide.
Related guides
Childminder insurance: frequently asked questions
Do childminders need insurance?
Yes. In England, Ofsted requires registered childminders to hold public liability insurance, and childminder agencies expect the same. If you employ an assistant, employers' liability insurance is a legal requirement with at least £5 million of cover. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, check with your regulator.
How much does childminder insurance cost?
As a rough guide, a sole childminder often pays roughly £60 to £150 a year for public liability that meets Ofsted's requirement. Adding equipment, legal expenses and loss of income typically brings it to around £120 to £280, and a childminder with an assistant may pay £180 to £450. These are rough guide figures including 12% Insurance Premium Tax.
What insurance does Ofsted require for childminders?
Ofsted requires registered childminders to hold public liability insurance. If you employ anyone, you also need employers' liability insurance by law.
How much public liability insurance does a childminder need?
Policies commonly offer £1 million, £2 million or £5 million. Many childminders choose £5 million. Check whether your agency, local authority or any funding agreement asks for a particular limit.
Does my home insurance cover childminding?
Often not. Many standard home insurance policies exclude business use, so tell your home insurer you childmind. Some will add it, and others won't, so you may need to switch.
Do I need business car insurance to do school runs as a childminder?
Usually, yes. Driving minded children on school runs or outings is business use, and most social, domestic and pleasure policies don't include it. Ask your insurer to add business use and tell them you carry children who aren't your own.
Does childminder insurance cover false allegations?
Many childminding policies include legal defence cover for abuse or safeguarding allegations, but not all do. Check it's included, the limit, and whether it covers investigations by the police, the local authority and Ofsted.
Do I need insurance for my childminding assistant?
Yes. If you employ an assistant, employers' liability insurance is a legal requirement with at least £5 million of cover, and you can be fined up to £2,500 a day without it. Tell your public liability insurer about the assistant too.
Do I need employers' liability if my assistant is a family member?
Be careful. The exemption for family members is narrow, and if you pay a relative, for example through PAYE, you may well need cover. Ask the broker before you assume you're exempt.
Am I covered if I can't work during an investigation?
Only if your policy includes loss of income cover that pays when your registration is suspended. Check how long it pays for and whether there's a waiting period before it starts.
Is childminding insurance different from nanny insurance?
Yes. A childminder looks after children in their own home and runs their own business. A nanny works in the family's home, usually as their employee, so the family normally needs employers' liability insurance for the nanny.