Food, toys, Ofsted fees — tracked in one app
Buy food and craft supplies. Pay Ofsted fees. Train annually. Run the home as your workplace. All tracked in one app.
Food shopping & small purchases — most childminders under-claim
A typical UK childminder buys food and snacks for minded children every week, runs craft supplies, replaces toys, pays Ofsted fees, renews paediatric first-aid, and uses their home as the workplace. HMRC allows generous claims (food per child per day, household-cost shares) but most childminders don't keep the receipts to back them up.
What PocketReceipt tracks for childminders
Food & consumables
Supermarket food for minded children, snacks, drinks. Tag receipts to claim per-child food allowance correctly.
Toys, crafts & equipment
Arts & craft supplies, books, age-appropriate toys, garden equipment. Capital allowance flagged on big-ticket items.
Ofsted & insurance
Ofsted registration fees, public liability, business insurance. Tagged once, scheduled annually.
Training & CPD
Paediatric first-aid renewals, safeguarding, food hygiene, EYFS courses. Fully allowable CPD.
Home as workplace
Use of home calculations: heating, electricity, council tax, water apportioned by hours and rooms used. PocketReceipt's calculator handles it.
Mileage for outings
Trips to playgroup, library, parks, pickups and drop-offs. HMRC 45p/25p auto-applied.
A typical childminder's week, tracked
- Monday — supermarket shop for minded children's food, scan receipt
- Tuesday — buy art supplies and a new puzzle, scan receipt
- Wednesday — drive to library and back with three children, mileage logged
- Thursday — pay paediatric first-aid renewal fee, receipt scanned
- Friday — top up on snacks and craft paper, scan receipt
- Sunday — export weekly summary to your accountant
FAQ for childminders
How much can I claim for food per child?
HMRC accepts a daily food allowance per minded child (currently in the region of £3.20 per child per day full-time, or evidenced actuals — check current HMRC guidance). Keep supermarket receipts to back up actual costs.
Can I claim use of my home?
Yes — childminders have specific HMRC rules. You can claim a percentage of household running costs (heating, lighting, water, council tax, mortgage interest or rent) based on hours minded and rooms used. PocketReceipt's calculator helps you work it out.
Are toys and books deductible?
Yes if used for the business. Items costing less than £150 are usually fully expensed. Larger purchases may need capital-allowance treatment — PocketReceipt flags those automatically.
Can I claim Ofsted registration?
Yes — your Ofsted registration fees and any DBS check renewals are fully allowable as direct business expenses.