Weather disruption
Winter weather is causing disruption to services in some parts of the county. Find out what services may be affected in your area.
We support:
- registered early years and childcare providers and their staff
- anyone setting up new childcare provision or registering as a childminder
- people looking for a job in childcare
You already work in a childcare provision
Search Nexus for a range of information and training.
You want to find out about Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks
Everyone who works with children must have an enhanced DBS check. Employers and childminders are responsible for keeping these up to date.
Register as a childcare provider
Find information to help you register as a childcare provider, such as:
- GOV.UK guidance about registering as a childminder or childcare provider
- our Early Years and Childcare Service: they can tell you about the registration process and demand for childcare in the area you plan to set up in
Register as a childminder
You need to register as a childminder if you want to provide childcare from your own home. This also applies if you work with up to 2 other people from a home that's not the home of the child or children.
Find out more about becoming a childminder and running your business from GOV.UK.
Register as a nanny
Find out about becoming a nanny and running your business from GOV.UK.
You don't have to register with Ofsted to be a nanny or home child carer, but parents may be able to get help paying for childcare if you do register.
Read Ofsted's quick guide to registering as a nanny.
Find out more about registering as an early years childcare provider in this video from Ofsted:
Childcare Sufficiency Assessment
As a local authority, we have a duty to make sure there are enough childcare places in Dorset.
Read our latest Childcare Sufficiency Report to find out how we make sure the supply of childcare places matches the demand.
Read what we're doing as the result of feedback about our Childcare Sufficiency Assessment.
Early years and childcare service
Email: earlyyearsadvice@dorsetcouncil.gov.ukTel: 01305 221066
Full contact details