SIL using unregistered childminder - what would you do?

I agree wholeheartedly haliborange, there are many unregistered childminders locally many who are far better at providing safe, fun and stimulating enviroments than some other registered providers who do the job purely because it's convenient while their own children are little.

Ofsted wouldn't like a lot of things that go on in registered childminders houses if they knew about them but they virtually never get to know anyway.

If it's an unfit premises with loads of children and a cheap price and no first aid knowledge ... Etc then that would be worrisome. But if it's a friend or someone she knows and trusts and it's just her dd - what's the problem? As long as she keeps it quiet that she pays her, ofsted can keep their fat intrusive nose out of it.

The CM might have first aid training and a CRB. Not being registered does not mean she doesn't.
She might also be someone your SIL knows well and trusts. Tbh I think the Ofsted thing has gone too far - if parents want to require Ofsted registration then fine, but what if you had a lovely neighbour you'd known for years who volunteered to look after your kids at a price you could afford? What if you and a colleague agreed to cover each other's childcare? Seriously, what is wrong with that (other than the fact that Ofsted doesn't like it)?

It must be painstaking stuff trying to prove that the people are actually minding for reward though.

One Ofsted inspector told me that the only way they ever get to know anything is if someone tells them as them are so overstretched.

Thanks for that elhiethropp, I had no idea Ofsted took an interest in unregistered childcare, I bet there will be a few people panicing locally to me if I were to let them know.

If someone knowingly uses an unregistered childminder that is their business and nobody else's.

Insurance is all very well but isn't actually going to prevent anything from happening to the child; parents don't know about milestone developments and there are certainly plenty of registered childminders who hate all the eyfs stuff anyway; crb checks are only valid on the day they're issued and are IMO not worth the paper they're written on.

I don't imagine this woman is earning enough from op's sil for tax to be an issue anyway so that is an equally invalid argument..

As long as she's not advertising herself as registered childcare then whatever arrangement individuals come to between them is their business and I personally wouldn't get involved.

OFSTED can prosecute unregistered childminders (and they do - they did so locally it was an asful case where an unregistered childminder had completely unsuitable premises and way to many children cared for at a time.)

Please can you explain to me chabbychic how Ofsted can govern unregistered childcare?

Not being awkward, just don't see how it is possible and what they can do about it?

Er yes it has everything to do with Ofsted.

You can report her anonymously.

I am a bit puzzled here about people saying to report her to Ofsted,

Ofsted deal with registered childminders, if the childminder isn't registered then surely that has nothing to do with Ofsted?

Some people do it for financial reasons... And maybe she was friends with the cared beforehand. She won't be insured but same risk of something happening to your dd. Carer just won't be covered if it does.

I think you could inform her of the risks but I would leave it. It's her choice. She obviously trusts this person.

boobz you have made me rofl

the charm?? What a bizarre idea - charm school for a 23 month old! Obviously meant harm.

If your relationship is already strained with SIL, is it worth making things worse? Is your SIL or brother likely to leave their daughter in the care of someone they think is likely to bring the charm to any harm?

People leave their children with grand parents or friends in regular care arrangements, most of whom won't have insurance, first aid or safeguard training, and won't be up-to-date on developmental matters in a professional manner - but no one would dream of telling them not to leave their kids with a grand parent.

So the only issue really is the tax evasion, which is a fair point to raise with your brother, on a moral and legal stand point.

I cant believe the number of people who think it's not her business!

so yes, pass on the information

SIL may not have realised the implications

It's none of your business

If this is a case of informing SIL of the risk she has taken on, then that's probably not a bad idea. But, if it crosses the line into telling her what to do with her children, I can't imagine that is going to be productive.

It's funny I work with someone who used to be a childminder. She now send her kids to someone who is not a registered cm and pays her cash in hand. She has another childminder who is legit. But the cih one fills in when regular one cannot. I'm sure she does this out of financial necessity. I don't pass judgement.

any more questions, ask away

okay

uninsured, unregulated childcare means that if something awful happens (rare but possible) the parents will have no comeback

She may not have first aid training, or safeguarding training, thus putting the children she looks after at risk

she may not have correct car insurance

she may not be up to date on child development matters, and the children she cares for may not be reaching milestones, unnoticed; the child may progress at a slower rate and thus their potential to achieve may be compromised

Payment by cash in hand indicates a lax approach to tax matters, so one could comfortably infer that she may be avoiding her responsibilities to the taxman

and of course, she is breaking the law

Now, it's up to you what you do with this information; you could bring up the subject with MIL and explain that her grand daughter could be at risk, for the sake of a few quid

HTH, and good luck

On one hand I think that people who know and trust eachother should be able to have an arrangement, the same as family, to look after a child if the prohibitive cost of childcare otherwise prevents use of legitimate childcare businesses. On the other, there will be safety implications and also tax avoidance presumably. If I thought the children were at risk, I would do something, otherwise, I'd steer well clear.

'What has it got to do with you?'

Er... someone working illegally? Moral responsibility???

It is a big deal, pisses us registered cm's off. All your worries are founded - uninsured, unqualified, no first aid, no house check, no CRB...

Phone Ofsted.