CM Club: Ofsted may raise Fees

To be honest, I don't think parents of mindees are aware of how much we pay to Ofsted at the moment, and are more concerned that we are registered rather than not!

And over £100 is scary for some (me!). I started minding when DS2 was born, always wanted to but never financially able to until then. And I spent a couple of busy years, but DS2 has turned out to have SN's which mean I spend time each week taking him to therapy/special school etc etc. So, for the last year or so, I have minded one child, one day a week (had his big brother till he started school, and current mindee since he was born. No way I want to stop looking after him!).

So, £100 takes out a month's salary for me, and although I could do it on expenses, I don't earn enough to pay tax! But this doesn't mean that I don't regard c/minding professionally or as a career (will increase hours again when DS2 starts f/time school).

Think this sort of situation could encourage some c/minders to charge higher rates to cover ofsted charges!

Realise it'd be a logistical nightmare but perhaps increases in ofsted fee could be linked to turnover/net profit?

Agree with the last 2 posts. I wouldn't have a problem paying higher fees but I would really struggle with £250 a year, especially when I only had 1 mindee for 3 months! I think it would also make more people childmind without being registered to avoid paying the fees - especially those who are doing it for family! Also don't think parents would be aware of the higher fees being charged - can't see how this fee thing would raise the profile of childminders?

I am convinced that the real reason some people here are wanting minders to pay more money is to stop the competition of other minders starting up in your area

So if I had voted for this years ago when I started then all the members on here who have started up since would have been penalized

OK some people have had problems with other minders starting up in their areas

But surely having to pay out £250 to the authorities wouldn't help would it

Cos then if minder A is having trouble filling spaces because minder B has started up down the road

The authorites are the winners cos they get £250 from A & B BUT there are half the number of children each

So A & B are not earning as much money per week

So the only winners are the authorities who get £500

Why would you want that?

And yes I agree, THE PRISONER if you are registering for relative children or 1 - 1 care it will penalize you

Why not have it as a % of earnings

Parents are not even going to know what charges we have to pay IMHO.

I think that £250 is too much. My dh pays professional fees annually, but he earns a darn sight more money that I do.

Does anyone really think that having to pay £250 will raise the profile of childminders or make the general public think of us as "more professional"?

It may well deter people from registering in the first place, but I'm undecided as to whether that is fair - I know several minders who have registered with a view to offering one-to-one care only, or to mind relatives, and they certainly won't be earning much.

It is far too late for me to try being coherent!!

We were talking about Ofsted fees.

hang on ....i thought we were talking about the annual ofsted fee not NCMA stuff ....or am i way off here????

I think we may be talking about OFSTED fees?

At least I thought we were

The NCMA is not my professional body. It is a registered charity.

That's my feeling Isyhan

I think if cmders or nanies want to see themselves as professionals then they need to come into line with what other professionals have to do. When you compare the cost of NMCA against other 'bodies' then its a good deal. I pay £15 a month to RCN and havent been near a patient for 4 years clinically until last week but Im happy to pay it.

Thanks nannynick.
That's a lot clearer.
I am completely in agreement that nannies should be registered and included in all free and subsidised training initiatives.
Their role has many specifics not shared with either home based or nursery care but I'm sure those could be incorporated, and 'celebrated' for their worth to the families they work for and the children they care for.

Though i want childminding to be taken more professionally i think £250 is a little excessive.

nannynick i totally see where you are coming from and yes i was a nanny for a while and dispaired at the lack of respect and backup available to that side of the childcare profession. I feel it can be a little harder for nannys sometimes because they are fighting it on two fronts, first with all out "there" and then their own employers to a certain extent.

Arrrggghhhhh why the hell did we all choose to be in one of the most undervalued, underpayed and least respected careers. Just as well we all love working with children huh :o

RTKM - so effectively you are taking a career break, by choice(abeit not all your choice)

I have been childminding for many years without a break

And so this is the 1st break I have had cos of the mindee mum taking extended maternity leave

And so not under my control but OK I could have agreed to take on all the babies that I kept being asked to do, during the year

but I wanted to concentrate on DS during this very important year for him

RTKM - you are running a business you know how expenses/profit&loss/tax are administered

I work another job PAYE so pay tax on every penny earned as a minder.
The fee would be classed as an expense so would reduce the overall yearly profit of the business. Tax is paid - to the tax men and women! - on the profit. You don't get any money back as such.

so if you claim it back from taxman

Does he repay the whole £250?

So really the ones who have lots of mindees will be ok but those who don't won't

I agree to paying fees but £250 just seems too much especially if NOT claimed back from taxman

Is it not possible to be a self-employed nanny?

RTKM no more or less unfair than for any other professional (like my dad)