Childminders are registered and inspected by Ofsted to ensure they provide a safe and stimulating environment for the children they care for. They are self-employed and run their business from their own home. The maximum number of children they can look after is 6 (unless they employ an assistant or work with other childminders). A childminder must be registered if they care for children under 8 years old, for more than 2 hours in a day for reward (this includes cash payment and payment in kind). They can care for children over the age of 8 without being registered.