Food safety for childminders

If you are a childminder and you give food to a child in your care, the food hygiene legislation applies to you. This includes all food, from a drink of orange to a full cooked meal.

If a child's parent or guardian has prepared the food and you are only responsible for storing it, the food hygiene legislation does not apply.

Inspections

We will not normally inspect childminders unless we receive complaints, or if there is a case of food poisoning associated with your childminding. In these cases, we will carry out a normal investigation. We will expect you to maintain the same standards of safety as any other food business.

Food registration forms for childminders

You don't need to register with us separately as a food business. You only need to register with Ofsted, who will share any relevant information with us.

More information

Visit the Food Standards Agency website for further information.