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Childminders who provide food

Childminders need to be registered with Surrey County Council's (This link will open in a new window) Early Years Service.

Registration by Childminders as a food businesses

Any Childminder in the Tandridge Area who is providing a 'food service' to those in their care will also need to be registered as a food business.

To help childminders register we have created the following on line form Childminder registration of food or no food operation form

According to the Food Standards Agency's advice, childminders are not required to complete this registration form if they do no more than the following:

a. Provide mains drinking water.
b. Provide crockery and cutlery for use by children to eat their own packed lunches.
c. Provide chilled storage for packed lunches that belong to the children.
d. Provide occasional assistance to children with cutting up their own food in response to individual need rather than as an established service.
e. Occasionally provide food that is not part of the normal service. (Examples are, a cake to celebrate a child's birthday or provision of food where a parent/guardian is delayed.)
f. Operating in the child's own home and serving food that belongs to the child's parent/guardian e.g. nannies or home child carers.

If you do more than any of these then you are considered to be providing a food service and you must register with your local council by completing this submitting this form.

New childminders should do so at least 28 days before beginning to offer food as part of the childminding service. Existing childminders that have not registered at their current address, or who have moved to a new address should submit this form as soon as possible.

What happens once I have registered?

A food safety officer will contact you to arrange a suitable time to visit to discuss general food hygiene practices to ensure food is being prepared safely. Please be aware that some time may elapse before this appointment is made, but see "Is there anything else I need to do?" below regarding an important matter to be working on in the mean time.

Will my domestic situation be taken into account?

You have a general duty, in addition to the welfare requirements set out in Ofsted's Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage or the regulations under the Childcare Act 2006, to ensure that food you provide is safe to eat and does not cause illness. The food safety officer help you put in place practical and proportionate measures to ensure food safety taking your domestic environment into consideration.

What about food hygiene training?

Food hygiene courses are available from various training providers (e.g. colleges and adult education evening classes). However, there is no requirement for childminders to attend formal courses or to acquire food hygiene qualifications. It is important however, that childminders have sufficient knowledge to prepare and supply food that is safe to eat. If you in doubt we recommend you take advantage of our local food hygiene courses

Is there anything else I need to do?

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has produced the pack 'Safer food, better business for childminders' for those providing meals and drinks to children in their care. It was developed with the National Childminding Association to help childminders keep a record of what to do to make sure food given to babies and children is safe to eat. It provides key information on food hygiene and has a diary section for simple record keeping.

The pack is available free of charge. You must contact Food Standards Agency Publications on 0845 606 0667 or email: foodstandards@ecgroup.co.uk for your copy.

You also need to read, complete the relevant sections of the pack and start operating the simple diary system as soon as possible.

Further information

For more information about food safety visit the following web site: Childminder advice on food premises registration (This link will open in a new window)

More general advice is available on the FSA Website at: Eat Well (This link will open in a new window)

If you are a Tandridge childminder who does not provide a food please advise us so that we do not contact you by ringing 01883 732841 or complete the on line form Childminder registration of food or no food operation form

For further information please contact Environmental Health on 01883 732841 or e-mail eh@tandridge.gov.uk

Or write to us at:
Tandridge District Council
8 Station Road East
Oxted Surrey RH8 0BT

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