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Help and support with cost of living

Applying to undertake the P4R for childminders approved training course

Important - before you can apply for the childminder training course, you must have attended a childminder briefing session.

Training dates

Dates Times Venue
Tuesday 10 June 2025 to Tuesday 15 July 2025 6pm to 8.30pm Swinton Gateway
Monday 3 November 2025 to Monday 8 December 2025 10am to 12.30pm Swinton Gateway
Thursday 5 February 2026 to Thursday 19 March 2026 (no training 19 February due to half term) 10am to 12.30pm Swinton Gateway

Modules covered in training

  • Session one - Introduction and documents overview
  • Session two - Safeguarding
  • Session three - Learning and development – part one
  • Session four - Learning and development – part two and funding
  • Session five - Health
  • Session six - Safety and suitability of premises, environments and equipment

Ready to apply to attend the childminder training? Then please read the following information carefully before completing the online application form below.

Things to consider before applying for a place on the childminder training course:

  • you must be able to complete all modules of the training course (make sure you are not going to be on holiday or have other commitments)
  • you must complete the local authority recognised paediatric first aid course, currently £60 for Salford residents and £100 if you live outside Salford Local Authority.
  • you must register as a self employed business with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
  • you must register with Salford City Council environmental health team (or your Local Authority environmental health team)
  • you must complete the required safeguarding training
  • you must complete any other specified training courses
  • you must agree to work collaboratively with the Starting Life Well Service (SLW)
  • you must complete the food hygiene training via the Starting Life Well (SLW) e-learning module
  • consider the childcare market in your area, what is your business strategy to compete and thrive in a competitive market sector
  • you must complete the SLW information service childcare questionnaire and keep the service up to date with your vacancy and childcare service details
  • you must be able to pay the course fee, which is currently £250 for Salford residents and £500 for anyone living outside Salford Local Authority. Please note fees may be subject to change. A deduction will be applied to the course fee, if you attended the Starting Life Well briefing session, which will reduce the cost of the course fee to £225 for Salford residents only.

Special offer

We are currently offering Salford residents the opportunity to attend our Preparation for Registration childminder course and receive the cost of the course back when you become an Ofsted Registered Childminder.

You will also be offered a free place to attend our Starting Life Well Child Protection course.

To find out more contact our Starting life Well Team via email at SLW@salford.gov.uk or call 0161 778 0384 (option 2).

Terms and conditions:

  • You must be a Salford resident and register to work in Salford
  • You must complete your childminder registration with Ofsted within 12 months of completion of the P4R course
  • Once we have been notified from Ofsted that your registration is granted we will reimburse your P4R course fee of £250 (which includes the Briefing fee) and offer you a free place on the Starting Life Well Child Protection training course.
  • This offer applies to P4R courses completed up to the 31 March 2027 

Apply for the P4R Training Course

Please note: we email all course materials and correspondence, therefore you must have or be prepared to set up an email address. Gateway centres have facilities for you to access a computer and can offer support to help you set up an email account.

If your application is successful you will be emailed a confirmation letter inviting you to attend the training and giving full details.

There is limited availability for our training course places, please don't waste your time or ours, be sure you are 100% committed and ready to begin a childminding career.

If the childminder training dates do not meet your needs you may wish to consider undertaking a PACEY online training course. This training is acceptable to Salford, however your briefing session fee would not be refundable if you choose to take this route.

If you have any questions or queries please contact Starting Life Well on 0161 778 0384 (Option 2).

This page was last updated on 3 April 2025

Becoming a childminder

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