The GP health check is one of the steps you need to complete to become a tiney-registered childminder. This article walks you through what it is, the two ways you can do it, and what to do if you hit any common snags.
Our strong recommendation: book through RTW plus, our partner. It is faster, cheaper for most trainees, and far less hassle than going through your own GP.
What is the GP health check and why do I need one?
The GP health check confirms that you are physically and mentally fit to work as a childminder. It is a legal requirement, and we cannot complete your registration without it.
The check covers things like your general health, any conditions that might affect your ability to care for children, and your medical history over the last 5 years. The person doing the check needs to see your last 5 years of medical records (called a "5 year medical summary") before they can sign you off.
What are my options for getting the GP health check done?
You have two options:
Option 1: Book through RTW plus, our tiney partner. Costs £75, you can usually get an appointment within a few days, and it is done online. This is the route most trainees go with.
Option 2: Use your own GP. A good option if you have a strong relationship with your GP and they are happy to do the check. Costs and timings vary by surgery.
Both routes get you to the same place. The next section gives you a side-by-side comparison so you can pick the one that works best for you.
How do RTW plus and my own GP compare?
Here is a quick side-by-side:
| RTW plus | Your own GP |
Cost | £75, fixed | Varies (we have seen anywhere from £20 to over £100) |
Speed | Usually 1 to 2 weeks | Highly variable, sometimes a month or more |
Format | Online video appointment | In person at your GP surgery |
Familiar with the form | Yes, they do this all day | Depends on your GP |
A few things worth knowing:
RTW plus is the easiest route if your GP is not familiar with the form, or if your records are spread across multiple surgeries.
Your own GP can be a great option if you already have a good relationship with them and they have done these checks before.
If you are not sure which to pick, RTW plus is a safe default.
How do I book the GP health check through RTW plus?
Four steps:
Request a PDF of your 5 year medical summary from your GP. This is a short summary, not your full medical history. Most GP surgeries can do this through their online portal or in person.
Upload your medical summary to the RTW plus booking form.
Pay your invoice and book your appointment through the same booking flow.
Complete your online appointment. It is a video call, typically 15 to 20 minutes.
Once RTW plus completes the check, the result comes straight to us. You do not need to do anything else.
How do I use my own GP for the health check instead?
If you would prefer to use your own GP, here is how it works.
Before you start: call your GP surgery and ask two things upfront. First, do they complete private health check forms for childminders? Second, how much will it cost and how long is the turnaround? This saves you time later if the answer is no, or if the cost is more than you want to pay.
The steps:
Download the tiney GP Health Check form: Find the file here. It is a short PDF with sections for you to fill in and sections for your GP to fill in.
Fill in sections 1 to 4 yourself. These cover your personal details, contact information, and a declaration about your own health. Read each question carefully and answer honestly. If anything is not clear, get in touch with your Advisor before submitting.
Book an appointment with your GP and bring the form with you. Most GPs treat this as a private appointment (not a standard NHS one), so you may need to book it separately and pay upfront. When you book, mention it is a childminder health check so the surgery can flag it correctly.
Pay your GP directly. Costs vary by surgery. Your GP will complete the remaining sections of the form during or after the appointment. Some GPs do this on the spot, others post it back to you a few days later.
Send the completed form to onboarding@tiney.co. Take a clear, well-lit photo of every page (including any blank pages), make sure all four corners of the page are visible in each photo, and send them in order. PDFs are also fine if your GP gives you one.
We will review your form. If anything needs clarifying, we may refer your check to RTW plus for a second opinion. We will let you know if that happens.
A script you can use when you call your GP surgery:
"Hello, I am training to become a childminder and I need a GP health check completed. I have the form ready to bring in. Could you let me know whether your surgery does these, how much it costs, and how long the turnaround is?"
Who needs the GP health check, just me or my whole household?
Only you. Your partner, family members, or anyone else living in your home do not need a GP health check.
What if I have lived in the UK for less than 5 years?
You need to use RTW plus. Your own GP will not have 5 years of UK records to share, so this is the only route that works.
When you upload your medical summary to RTW plus, include:
Your UK records covering the time you have been here.
Any medical records you can get from your previous country (translated into English if possible).
If you are having trouble getting records from outside the UK, contact your tiney Advisor. We can usually find a way through.
What if my GP refuses to do the check, or does not know how?
This happens from time to time. Some GPs say it is against NHS policy to do private health checks, or they are not familiar with the form.
If that is you, the simplest next step is to book through RTW plus instead. You do not need to convince your GP, and you do not need permission to use the partner route. Just head to the RTW plus booking form and start there.
If you do not have a regular GP (for example, if you are in the armed forces and see a medical officer), RTW plus is also a good option.
What exactly do I ask my GP for?
If you are going through RTW plus, you need to ask for a PDF of your 5 year medical summary.
Some helpful wording to use with your GP:
"Hello, I am training to become a childminder. I need a PDF of my 5 year medical summary, not my full medical history. It is for a private medical check. Can you let me know how to request this?"
Some GP surgeries can do this through their online portal (look for "request medical records" or similar). Others will ask you to come in or submit a form.
If your GP gives you a full medical history instead, that is also fine to upload to RTW plus.
How much does the GP health check cost?
RTW plus: £75, fixed.
Your own GP: varies. The price depends entirely on your GP surgery, and you will not know until you ask. In our experience trainees pay anywhere from around £20 to over £100.
If cost is a worry, get in touch with your Advisor. We can talk through your options.
How long does the GP health check take?
Through RTW plus: usually 1 to 2 weeks from start to finish. The appointment itself is quick (15 to 20 minutes online), and most of the time is spent waiting for your GP to send you your medical summary.
Through your own GP: variable. We have seen anywhere from 2 weeks to over a month, depending on how busy your GP is and how familiar they are with the form.
Can I keep doing other parts of my training while I wait for the GP check?
Yes. The GP health check does not block any of your other training tasks, so you can keep going with everything else in the meantime.
The only thing it holds up is your final registration, which is why it is best to get it started early rather than leaving it until the end.
What happens after my GP health check is submitted?
Once your check is in, here is what happens:
If you went through RTW plus, the result comes straight to us. There is nothing more for you to do.
If you went through your own GP, we review the completed form when it arrives at onboarding@tiney.co. In some cases, we may refer your check to RTW plus for a second opinion. This is a normal part of the process and does not mean anything is wrong. If we do this, we will let you know.
Once your check is signed off, it ticks off another step on your way to registration. You can keep an eye on your progress in the tiney app.
If we need anything else from you, we will message you in the app or email you directly.
What information does tiney see from the GP health check?
We only see the outcome of the check (whether you are fit to work as a childminder) and any relevant notes the GP has flagged. We do not see your full medical history.
Your medical summary is shared with RTW plus (or your own GP) for the purposes of the check only. RTW plus is a regulated medical service and follows the same confidentiality rules as any NHS GP.
If you have specific privacy questions, get in touch and we'll be happy to help.