Use this checklist to check a contract you already have, or as the list of sections for a new one. Each line links to the guide that covers it in detail.
About you and the place
- Your name, registration number and the address where care happens.
- Anyone else who cares for the child: an assistant, a co-childminder, a backup childminder.
- The child's start date, days and times, and whether the place is all year or term time only.
- Settling-in visits: how many, who stays, and the cost. (Settling in)
Money
- Your rates and what's included. (What to charge)
- Funded hours shown separately from private hours, with optional extras itemised. (Funded hours)
- When and how families pay, including Tax-Free Childcare. (Payment schedule)
- Any deposit or retainer. (Deposits and retainers)
- Late payment and unpaid fees. (Late payment)
- How often you review fees, and the notice you give. (Fee rises)
- Extra time and late collection charges. (Late collection)
Absence and closures
- What families pay when their child is ill or away. (Sickness)
- Your holidays, their holidays and bank holidays. (Holidays, bank holidays)
Care and safety
- Illness, exclusion and medicines. (Sickness policy, medicines)
- Safeguarding, including that it overrides confidentiality. (Safeguarding)
- Who can collect, and passwords.
- Accidents and first aid. (Accidents)
- Outings, transport, pets and sleep.
- Your written policies, or where to find them. (Policies list)
Information, changes and ending
- What you record, who you share it with and how long you keep it. (Privacy)
- Complaints and Ofsted's contact details. (Complaints)
- How hours can change. (Changing hours)
- Notice on both sides, and fees during notice. (Notice)
- The narrow grounds for ending without notice. (Ending straight away)
- Signatures from everyone with parental responsibility who is party to it. (Who signs)
Questions people ask
Does a childminder contract have to be in writing? The EYFS doesn't require a contract by name, but it does require you to give parents most of this information, and a signed contract is the clearest way to do it. More in does Ofsted require a contract?
How long should a childminder contract be? Long enough to cover the list above in plain English. Putting your policies in appendices keeps the main terms easy to read.
GoChildmind asks about every item on this list and writes the contract from your answers. You can read the sample to see it all together.