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Care, nurseries and childminders
Registered childminders in England need public liability insurance from the day they start looking after children, and Ofsted’s guidance says so in terms. The bigger risk is often your home and car policies, which may not expect a business to be run from your house.
Part of: Care home insurance
In short
Childminders in England register with Ofsted or a childminder agency under the Childcare Act 2006, and Ofsted’s guidance says you will need public liability insurance when you start looking after children. A childminder policy usually combines public liability with cover for equipment, abuse allegations and legal expenses, and employers’ liability if you employ an assistant. Separately, tell your home insurer that you childmind, as many home policies restrict business use or visitors’ claims, and make sure your car insurance covers business use if you drive minded children.
Under section 33 of the Childcare Act 2006, a person may not provide early years childminding on domestic premises in England unless registered, either in Ofsted’s Early Years Register or with a childminder agency. Ofsted can serve an enforcement notice on someone childminding without registration, and carrying on while the notice is in force is an offence.
Ofsted’s guidance on its registers explains that the Early Years Register covers children from birth to 31 August after their fifth birthday. The compulsory part of the Childcare Register covers children from 1 September after their fifth birthday until they are eight, and there is a voluntary part for children aged eight and over.
According to Ofsted’s registration guidance for childminders, you can work alone or with up to three others at any one time, and spend some of your time on non-domestic premises such as a community or village hall. If you work with four or more other people, you are providing childcare on domestic premises instead, which is registered differently and is closer to a nursery for insurance purposes.
Ofsted’s registration guidance says: “When you start looking after children you’ll need to have public liability insurance.” Its requirements for childminders on the compulsory Childcare Register put it more directly: “You must have public liability insurance. This covers death, injury, public liability, damage or other loss.” Childminders on the Early Years Register follow the EYFS framework for childminders, published on GOV.UK.
Public liability covers your legal liability if a child, parent or visitor is injured or their property is damaged because of your childminding. It does not cover your own property, your home or your car. See public liability insurance for how the cover works, or our short definition.
| Cover | What it is for | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Public liability | Injury to minded children, parents and visitors, and damage to their property. | It covers outings, the school run and any non-domestic premises you use. |
| Employers’ liability | Claims from an assistant you employ. Usually compulsory, with a £5 million minimum. | That assistants, including family members you pay, are declared. |
| Abuse allegations | Claims and defence costs following an allegation of abuse. | The limit and whether it is aggregate. |
| Legal expenses | Help with costs of some disputes, such as with parents over unpaid fees, or responding to an investigation. | What is covered and the limits. |
| Business equipment | Toys, buggies, car seats, laptops and other equipment used for childminding. | Whether it is covered away from home. |
| Loss of income | Income lost after an insured event stops you working. | What events trigger it and the period covered. |
All cover is subject to the insurer’s acceptance and the policy terms. Our pages on employers’ liability and legal expenses explain those covers.
A standard home insurance policy is written for a private house, not a business that welcomes several children every day. Many home policies restrict or exclude business use, business equipment, theft where there is regular business access to the home, and liability to visitors who come for business purposes.
If you drive children to school, nursery or activities as part of your childminding, most insurers treat that as business use. A policy limited to social, domestic and pleasure use and commuting may not cover those journeys. Ask your car insurer to add business use, and keep car seats suitable for each child’s age and size.
Ofsted’s incident reporting guidance requires registered childminders to report serious accidents, injuries or illness to a child, and allegations of harm or abuse, as soon as possible and always within 14 days. That applies to accidents in the car as much as at home. Tell your insurer too, under the policy’s own conditions.
The examples below are illustrative. They are not real claims or outcomes.
For how insurers treat allegations, see abuse and safeguarding cover, and for the regulators’ side, what CQC and Ofsted require on insurance.
Apex arranges insurance for childminders and nurseries, as well as care homes and domiciliary care. A broker reads each enquiry and comes back with options; there is no fee for a quote, and cover is subject to the insurer’s acceptance and the policy terms. To quote, we need your business activities, turnover, location and claims history, plus your registration (Ofsted or agency), the number and ages of children, any assistants, and whether you work from non-domestic premises or drive minded children.
Yes, in practice. Ofsted’s registration guidance says you will need public liability insurance when you start looking after children, and its requirements for the compulsory Childcare Register say you must have public liability insurance covering death, injury, damage or other loss. Check the current EYFS framework for childminders too.
Not automatically. Many home policies restrict business use, business equipment and liability to business visitors, and some exclude theft where there is regular business access. Tell your home insurer that you childmind and ask what changes. Childminder public liability covers your liability to minded children; your home policy is not designed for that.
Only if you employ someone, such as an assistant. Employers’ liability is then usually compulsory, with a minimum limit of £5 million. If you work alongside another registered childminder who is self-employed, you may not employ them, but check how the insurer treats the arrangement.
Not necessarily. Driving minded children to school or activities as part of your business is usually treated as business use, which policies limited to social, domestic, pleasure and commuting use may not include. Ask your insurer to add business use and confirm in writing that childminding journeys are covered.
Yes. Section 33 of the Childcare Act 2006 allows early years childminders on domestic premises to register either in Ofsted’s Early Years Register or with a childminder agency. Your insurance needs are much the same either way, but tell your insurer which you are registered with.
Tell us what your business does, your turnover and any claims. A broker reads every enquiry and comes back with options. No fee for a quote. Or call 0117 325 0027.
Start a commercial enquiry Request a callbackApex Insurance Brokers Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England and Wales, company number 07014570. This page is general information, not advice on your individual circumstances, and it does not guarantee that cover will be available or on what terms.
