Compare childminder insurance quotes

Looking after other people’s children brings responsibilities that home and car policies do not cover. Insurance for a childminder usually starts with public liability, for injuries to the children in your care and to visiting parents.

One short form on Quotezone brings quotes from UK providers, whether you childmind at home, work from other premises or work as a nanny.

Which risks does a childminder policy cover?

A childminder policy is usually built from a handful of sections, and you can leave out the ones that do not fit how you work:

• Public liability: claims that a child, parent or visitor was injured, or their property damaged, in your care (business.gov.uk).
• Employers’ liability: compulsory if you employ an assistant, for £5 million or more of cover (GOV.UK).
• Equipment and toys: cots, buggies, toys and other kit you use for work.
• Legal expenses: some policies help with the cost of disputes, such as a complaint from a parent.
• Business use of your car: needed if you drive children to school or on outings.

Your home insurance may not cover your business at all. Tell your home insurer that you childmind from the property.

Which insurance must childminders hold?

In England, Ofsted’s rules for childminders on the compulsory part of the Childcare Register say you must have public liability insurance (GOV.UK). If you employ an assistant, employers’ liability is also compulsory (GOV.UK).

GOV.UK lists insurance among the costs of becoming a childminder, alongside DBS checks and training (GOV.UK). In Northern Ireland, nidirect lists having their own public liability insurance as a benefit of using a registered childminder (nidirect).

Registering as a childminder in each part of the UK

In England, you must register if the children are under 8, you look after them for more than 2 hours a day and you are paid (GOV.UK). You can register with Ofsted or a childminder agency, and you can be fined for not registering.

In Scotland, childminders must by law register with the Care Inspectorate (Care Inspectorate). The legal test is working with children for more than two hours a day in your own home for reward.

In Wales, a child minder is someone who looks after children under 12 on domestic premises for reward, and registers with Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW). In Northern Ireland, paid childminders register with their local Health and Social Care Trust (nidirect).

Outings, transport and activities

Trips to parks, playgroups and soft play are part of most days. Check that public liability follows you away from home, and whether it limits activities such as swimming or farm visits.

Driving children needs business use on your motor policy, since business.gov.uk says vehicles used for work need motor insurance (business.gov.uk). Keep car seats suitable for each child’s age and size.

Records, data and complaints

Childminders keep records about children and families. In England, GOV.UK says it costs £40 to register with the Information Commissioner’s Office to keep digital records of children (GOV.UK).

Some policies add legal expenses cover, which can help if a parent makes a complaint or a dispute ends up in court. Check what it covers and any limits before you rely on it.

Keep accident and incident records up to date, and note when parents were told. Clear records can make it easier to deal with a claim months after an incident.

Insurance for nannies

Nannies work in the family’s home, so the risks are a little different. In England, a nanny does not have to register, but can choose to, which helps parents qualify for help with childcare costs (GOV.UK).

If you are a self-employed nanny, public liability protects you if a child is hurt or the family’s property is damaged. If a family employs you directly, HSE says they may need employers’ liability for someone who works only for them (HSE).

Nanny shares, where you look after children from two families, can blur who your employer is. Agree in writing who arranges cover, and check any policy names both families’ homes.

How much does childminder insurance cost?

Prices depend on how and where you work, and on how many children you look after at once. Insurers usually ask about:

• how many children you look after and their ages
• whether you work from home or from other premises
• whether you employ an assistant
• outings, transport and activities like swimming
• any earlier claims

Insurance Premium Tax is included in what you pay, charged at 12% at the standard rate since 1 June 2017 (HMRC).

A home childminder doing school runs

As an example, a childminder in England cares for four children at home and takes them to the park each afternoon. They need public liability that covers outings as well as the home.

They also drive two children to school, so they add business use to their car policy and tell their home insurer about the work.

Finding a policy on Quotezone

Answer a few questions about your setting, the children you care for and the covers you want. You can then compare how each quote treats outings, assistants and business car use.

Ready to look? Start a childminder quote on Quotezone.

You might also need

School runs by car need business use car insurance on your motor policy. If illness stopped you working, income protection insurance can pay part of your income.