All must register

Wednesday, September 25, 2002

Following the news story 'Ofsted acts on childminders' (12 September), I am writing to clarify the position on the law relating to unregistered childminders, as the first two paragraphs of the story are inaccurate. The law is clear - no person shall act as a childminder unless they are registered by the chief inspector. Again defined in law, to 'act as childminder' means looking after one or more children under the age of eight years on domestic premises for reward. It is therefore unlawful to act as a childminder in England without being registered with Ofsted.