School Compass
How to use the childminder directory
Consented Ofsted listings, grades where published, and a vetting checklist for wrap-around care — not a ranked list.
How to read the childminder directory
This is a consented Ofsted directory plus checklist — wrap-around and home-based care, not the nursery Ofsted comparison table.
What this can tell you
- Names and addresses childminders have consented to publish.
- Ofsted grade and report link where available.
- Practical vetting prompts for phone calls and visits.
What this is not telling you
- Phone numbers (not in Ofsted’s public consented file).
- Availability, fees, or whether they are the right fit for your child.
- A ranked list of “best” childminders.
Fair conclusions you can draw
- Who to contact first based on location and published grade.
- Which checklist items to cover before you decide.
How to use this for decisions
- Shortlist a few settings that look plausible on paper and on the map.
- Treat gaps and older inspections as prompts to ask, not automatic rejects.
- Visit (or watch a normal session), talk to staff, and weigh fit for your child.
- Keep notes on what you saw — printed packs are for that, not for league ranks.
Reading the inspection précis
- Excerpts are verbatim from the latest usable Ofsted or ISI report PDF.
- Positives and improvements are what inspectors wrote — not our summary of quality.
- A short précis cannot replace reading the full report in context.
- Academy conversion letters and admin PDFs are skipped when a real inspection exists.