At tiney, you don't have to run your childminding business alone! Whether you want to partner with another qualified childminder, hire an assistant, or grow an existing team, working together is a fantastic way to boost your capacity, share responsibilities, and create a dynamic early years environment.
Here is everything you need to know about setting up and running a co-childminding setting with tiney.
👥 Understanding the Roles: Co-Childminders vs. Assistants
Feature | Co-Childminder | Childminding Assistant |
Registration | Fully registered, independent tiney childminder. | Works under a registered childminder's supervision. |
Ratio & Supervisions | Can be left in sole charge of children, with no time limit. | Can only be left in sole charge of children for up to 2 hours per day with parent's permission. |
Legal Responsibility | Shares equal legal responsibility for meeting EYFS requirements. | Childminder holds primary legal responsibility. |
Training Requirements | Full tiney training, registration assessment call and home visit. | Safeguarding training and paediatric first aid. |
Ratios & Capacity Numbers | Up to 4 childminders/staff total per setting: Co-Childminders & assistants count towards adult:child ratios | Up to 4 childminders/staff total per setting: Co-Childminders & assistants count towards adult:child ratios |
💼 Business & Finance Setup Options
When running a setting with another childminder, you have two flexible options for managing your business and payments.
Regardless of option, each childminder registers individually as a sole trader with HMRC and manages their own tax returns.
Option 1: Shared Setting & Joint Wallet (Partnership Model)
How it works: You operate as a joint business under a single tiney provider profile. Apps are merged and both have access to everything.
Finances: All payments go into one shared tiney wallet that all registered childminders can access. You decide collectively how to divide income, pay assistants, or reinvest in resources.
Benefits: Contracts are signed under one provider name, making admin seamless. Children can stay at the setting with either childminder (e.g., if one CM takes a group on a day trip, the other can stay behind within ratio).
Option 2: Independent Businesses (Separate Wallets)
How it works: You work from the same physical address, but each childminder runs their own distinct business with a separate tiney profile.
Finances: Each childminder has their own registered children, contracts, and individual tiney wallet. Finances remain completely separate.
🏷️ Joining Fees & Commission Rates
Discounted Joining Fee: If you and your co-childminder sign up and join tiney at the same time, you both receive a £180 discount on your joining fee. (Note: Co-childminders are not eligible for referral reward schemes).
Reduced Commission Thresholds: tiney’s standard commission rate drops from 12% to 9% once specific setting earning thresholds are reached:
2 Co-Childminders: Reduced rate unlocked at £75,000 combined earnings (vs. £50,000 for a sole CM).
3 Co-Childminders: Reduced rate unlocked at £100,000 combined earnings.
📝 Onboarding & Registration Process
Every co-childminder has an individual registration with tiney, but we streamline the process where possible:
Training & Assessments: Each co-childminder completes their own training course and individual Registration Call. You can prepare the same practical activities and policies together, but each co-childminder must be able to explain independently how these meet EYFS requirements.
Combined Home Visit: If you are working from the same address, your Registration Visit will be conducted together at the host setting, but each co-childminder is individually assessed.
Forms & Household Checks:
The host childminder completes full household checks for their property.
The co-childminder (who does not own/rent the property) only needs to complete their own details on the "About You" form - no household forms required for their own personal residence.
Address on Certificate: The childminding address will be listed on both registration certificates.
💡 Transitioning from an Assistant to a Co-Childminder? 💡
If you are currently a registered assistant and stepping up to become a fully registered co-childminder at the same setting, we can look at fast-tracking your setup by potentially accepting your existing First Aid and DBS checks.
🏛️ Local Authority Early Years Funding Rules
Delivering funded early years entitlement hours across co-childminding settings depends on local authority policies:
Standard Shared Settings: Most local authorities require one designated "Approved Provider" to submit all funding claims on behalf of the setting for all eligible children.
Separate Businesses: If running independent businesses at the same address, some local authorities allow both childminders to claim funding separately, while others require a single designated provider for the physical address.
Assistants: Assistants cannot claim funding in their own right; all claims must be processed under a registered childminder.
Ready to start your co-childminding journey?
Reach out to the tiney onboarding team or chat with your advisor to set up your joint application!