SOMERSET council are offering a £250 grant to help those starting out in childminding.

The 'Golden Hello' grant can be used to help with training, setting up costs and other expenses associated with starting out as a childminder.

Childminding can be the perfect first step into other childcare and education roles. In addition, if you are leaving teaching or an educational support role but still want to work with children, this could be the perfect opportunity for you to start afresh.

Newly registered childminders will be given guidance and training by the council, who will also support them through Ofsted registration and beyond. 

Kate Haddrell from Frome took the step into childminding in March 2020 after working in nurseries for 10 years. She said: “Childminding has been a fantastic job alongside my family life.

"It has enabled me to not only earn more money than a career in a nursery, but also gives me the flexibility of being able to be there for my own children before and after school. Anyone who is thinking about a career in childminding, do it!” 

Lucy Cross, from Yeovil, said: “I trained to become a childminder when my own daughter was one, after I had gone back to work nights. I was missing out on so much time with my family and childminding was a great way to change this.

"Since then I have gone on to gain childcare qualifications and I work around my family’s schedule rather than fitting family around work. I have never looked back since.

"I love being able to help the children prepare for the next chapter of their lives and watching them grow into confident, hilarious little people. I enjoy the flexibility of being able to take our learning outside and making every day different”. 

Councillor Tessa Munt, executive lead for Children and Families at Somerset Council, said: “I had a brilliant childminder when my children were young.

"Jenny, my childminder, became my children’s best friend and she helped us for nearly a decade. Childminders can make such a big difference to a young child’s development, giving them skills for life, and be a massive support to the hard-working families around them.” 

To find out more, please call 0300 123 2224 or visit www.somerset.gov.uk/register.