Grant window has now ended.
Government grants for new childminders
From Spring 2023 to early 2025 the Government offered a startup bonus to new childminders joining agencies.
What was the childminder grant?
The 2023 Spring Budget introduced a £1200 Childminder Grant for new childminders joining a Childminder Agency instead of choosing direct Ofsted registration. This incentive, which highlighted the enhanced package available with a childminder agency, could cover all training and setup costs with tiney. The £1200 childminder start-up grant, offered by the Government, was designed to help with the cost of setting up as a childminder and did not have to be paid back. The grant has now ended, and people can no longer apply.
Who could have applied for the childminder grant?
To be eligible for the £1200 childminder start-up grant, applicants needed to register with tiney as a new childminder after 15th March 2023 and before the end of March 2025 (closing date to sign offer commitments, January 31st). To receive the full payout, applicants had to:
plan to work as a childminder in England
be a brand new childminder
if you registered with Ofsted or a CMA before 15th March 2023, or you’re currently registered, you’re unfortunately not eligible
register with tiney before the end of March 2025
have completed your full registration and passed our tiney onboarding before applying
start childminding with your first child within 6 months of passing your registration visit
How long did it take to get the childminder grant?
The £1200 childminder grant was paid in two instalments. Applicants received £600 upon registering with tiney and a second £600 when they started childminding their first child.
Registration could take as little as four weeks, depending on experience, pace through training, and the time required for third-party checks. Once registered, tiney assisted with the grant application process, followed by a short processing period before payment. The second payment could be claimed upon caring for the first child, which had to be within six months of initial registration. Tiney also supported childminders in making this claim.
