Food Safety for Childminders

Find information for childminders and how to register for food safety with the council. Download our registration form and advice leaflet with practical tips and guidance.

Food Hygiene Legislation

If, as a childminder, you give food to a child in your care, the food hygiene legislation will apply to you. This includes all food, from a drink of orange to a full cooked meal.

The only exception would be when the child’s parent or guardian has prepared the food, but you are responsible for safe storage once it has been delivered to you.

You must register for food safety with the council's Environmental Health service, but we will not normally inspect childminders unless we receive complaints or if there is a case of food poisoning associated with your childminding.

However, in these cases a normal investigation will be made and the same standards of safety will be expected as any other food business.

Food Registration Form and Advice Leaflet

To register with the council for food safety, if you are childminding in Eastbourne, please download the registration form below.

For guidance about how food safety law affects you and practical hygiene tips, you can download our advice leaflet Food Safety for Childminders.

Outside Eastbourne, please contact your local district or city council for food registration.

For general registration and legal requirements for childminders, go to the Ofsted website. For support in East Sussex, contact the Early Years, Childcare and Extended Schools Service (EYCESS) on 01323 747419.