Part time working mums sharing childcare between each other

[mumof3mellymoo]

Hi Mum's 👋 I wanted too ask advice and opinions about something that I have been thinking of for a while now and not sure if it is already a thing. A parents group that want too go back to work part time but cannot afford the childcare. So I'm thinking of trying too set something up where parents come together and try and work out where they can share childcare. So if 1 mum for example works 2 days and the other mum works on opposite 2 days a week they share between them the childcare. Obviously there would need to be dbs checks ect background checks. My youngest is 7 months old and I would like to try and work atheist 16 hours a week. Just cannot see any profit in it if I have to pay for childcare.

It sounds like a good idea but I believe you would both have to be registered childminders with the relevant qualifications, insurance and ofsted registration for this to be legal? I think there was a case of 2 police officers years ago who did this and got in a lot of trouble for it

Oh really. I just thought it would be a good idea and you would get too know them so would be like Friends sharing childcare. I just think there are so many other parents who are in great same boat so why can't they help each other out

I can only go from my own experience of working part time but my days off were spent with my own children, catching up on chores etc. I really wouldn’t have wanted to spend my days off caring for someone else’s children tbh.

I wouldn’t do it via an organisation. I would only do it via close friends that I know and trust. Plus I have to think carefully about which children to care for, some are easier to care for than others. Again, with friends’ children, I would know more about their personalities and how they would interact with my DC.

It would be my idea of hell and could end up ending friendships due to different parenting styles, parents not being available at last minute etc. When I worked part time my days off were precious so minding anyone else's kids would not have been something I'd have ever done.

It might be easier for you to have an informal arrangement with a like-minded friend, rather than trying to set up a group/organisation.

Yes I see all your points, I can just not see any other way of me going back to work until my Boy is old enough for childcare funding. Unfortunately I don't no many friends with the same needs as me.

Because if one of the children gets injured, or chokes in the other ones care there is no comeback, one off is friends sharing childcare - more than this then there would be legal obligations to meet.

@mumof3mellymoo

Yes I see all your points, I can just not see any other way of me going back to work until my Boy is old enough for childcare funding. Unfortunately I don't no many friends with the same needs as me.

A childminder around here is £35/day, that's around £3.50 an hour. Had you considered this when you were pregnant/during your maternity leave? Do you have a partner to share the childcare costs with?

(Also, you’re using the word “too” when you mean “to”)
oh shush Rags, not needed!

I agree though OP legal minefield. You need to be registered childminders for this kind of thing.

Have you thought about becoming a childminder? Could work quite well for a few years.

Yes there are legal implications <a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=amp.theguardian.com/politics/2009/sep/28/government-orders-review-babysitting-police&ved=2ahUKEwj_g7qdpIPzAhUN1hoKHRHFARcQFnoECAQQAQ&usg=AOvVaw28GaZ2VNwRTR96YIjAUukk&ampcf=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=amp.theguardian.com/politics/2009/sep/28/government-orders-review-babysitting-police&ved=2ahUKEwj_g7qdpIPzAhUN1hoKHRHFARcQFnoECAQQAQ&usg=AOvVaw28GaZ2VNwRTR96YIjAUukk&ampcf=1

I can see the benefit but personally wouldn’t even feel comfortable using a childminder so this wouldn’t suit me. I wouldn’t want one person in charge of my child unsupervised.

Also I think it would be awkward if there were any issues, as you would be friends and not employees.

Back to work childcare costs are only for a few years so if you want to stay in work I think it’s really important to power through. I know some people get loans out for this reason.

I did this on a casual basis with 2 other mums I met at the kids school. It happened very naturally, we became friends and just started to help eachother out. It worked brilliantly for the whole of primary. I never once had to pay for a kids club and neither did they. Added bonus was that DS is an only child so he always had someone to play with.

Childminders where I am charge £60 a day. Pretty good going really if you're keen on kids.

@pombombedom

It sounds like a good idea but I believe you would both have to be registered childminders with the relevant qualifications, insurance and ofsted registration for this to be legal? I think there was a case of 2 police officers years ago who did this and got in a lot of trouble for it

You only have to register as a childminder if you are being paid or compensated in some way.

The case with the police officers must have been about 15 years ago and the regulations were clarified pretty soon after that exchanging childcare informally with no money changing hands doesn't need to be registered.

Rugsofhonour what a snotty post. This is my 1st time posting and yes I have asked for people's different feedback and opinions but not to be judge or spell checked. I can tell what sort of person you are PAH. Oh and another snotty post from from QforCucumber I swear some people 😴 I would not just leave my child with anyone. I've said about DBS checks and maybe some coffee mornings before hand/ playmates ect. I've never heard of a childminder charging £3.50 per hour ? What area are you living in.

Maybe becoming a childminder is something I can look into. Poptartsrus. Thank you crazyguinepiglady and Bowtie292 your experience sounds perfect. I don't have a big network of Friends unfortunately but this sounds like the perfect scenario

I’d only do this with close friends and family as an informal arrangement where the children got along and we all had similar parenting styles; it’s not something I can see working as an organisation of for monetary exchange.

Also as PP says, I get one day with DD and it’s my day with her! I don’t want someone else’s kid! I don’t even like children except my own!

@mumof3mellymoo

Rugsofhonour what a snotty post. This is my 1st time posting and yes I have asked for people's different feedback and opinions but not to be judge or spell checked. I can tell what sort of person you are PAH. Oh and another snotty post from from QforCucumber I swear some people 😴 I would not just leave my child with anyone. I've said about DBS checks and maybe some coffee mornings before hand/ playmates ect. I've never heard of a childminder charging £3.50 per hour ? What area are you living in.

How is what I asked snotty? DH and I share our 1k a month childcare cost, I asked if you're able to do the same.

You said in your post about how sharing childcare means you would get to know them, so I would be like friends sharing childcare , meaning you're thinking of someone you don't already know and are not already friends with - so no, I would not leave my child, or look after the children of people I don't already know inside out if they are not registered.

I am in the North East, DS1 childminder is £10 a day for after school care. DS2 nursery is £220 a week for full time, take off tax free childcare allowance = £176 a week/5 days = £35.20 a day = £3.52 an hour for the time he is there.

and the reason I have a 4.5 year age gap, childcare fees. Not snotty - experienced.

www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/family-and-care/becoming-a-parent/childcare-options

At the bottom of this page.

Legally you can't regularly look after someone else's child, under 8 years old, for more than 2 hours a day, during normal working hours unless they are a registered child minder.

Qforcucumber thanks for your input 👍

Qforcucumber can I ask what sort of job do you hold also are you full time ?