Claiming funding for looking after my son

[RandomAccessMemory]

I'm a Childminder in Essex and as well as looking after other parent's children I also look after my own son, my son turned three a week ago and I was looking forward to being able to claim free entitlement funding for him from the spring term.

However I have just discovered that because I'm looking after my own son the local authority will not allow me to claim the funding for him, they say that there is a blanket ban on childminders claiming funding for children whom they are related to.

I don't want to send him to another childminder so should I kick up a fuss? I don't see why I should miss out just because I happen to be looking after him.

I work from home...my 9 year old is at home while I work.

I choose not to send her to a childcare facility even though here in Oz I'd get some funding...because she wouldn't enjoy it...I don't try to claim that funding for myself!

Just because your job is childcare, you can't expect to get paid for your son's care!

Send him somewhere else if you want to earn money.

It is easy. No qualifications needed of any kind, one ofsted visit and a basic medical check. What do you think is difficult about it?
@peppapigearworm

You do need some training to become a childminder and first aid but it’s not easy. Lots of hoops to jump through and full ofsted inspections. You may think it’s easy but it’s not as easy as you may expect. There’s a lot of paperwork before you can even look after a child.

You do need some training to become a childminder and first aid but it’s not easy.

really? my friend just did the course. it was just that, a course, no tests, no nothing.just bring present.

@cornerstoned well she mustn’t be fully registered yet. You need to do the course, wait for ofsted (which can take months) you need first aid, safeguarding training, sort insurance, contracts, about 20 different policies written, have your inspection visit. If you pass that you need to then get children in (with all relevant contracts and permissions etc) and then do regular observations and planning for the children. Then you get a full inspection every 3 years like schools and nurseries.

Ofsted wouldn’t approve you if you didn’t have the knowledge you should have gained through the Course.

Ofsted wouldn’t approve you if you didn’t have the knowledge you should have gained through the Course

I've seen the course, it's not exactly taxing. And there is no test.

No but there’s homework, you’re expected to know the eyfs inside out and part of it is writing all your policies and procedures. I don’t know how you’ve ‘seen’ the course though. It’s about 12 hours all in at least.

I think my friend meant that there weren't any tests, nothing to pass unlike in other childcare roles.

I've seen the course teachers paperwork. I've also seen people "pass" the course who really shouldn't have.

The 'test' is being inspected by ofsted and getting a grading good enough that anyone will leave their child with you.

@cornerstoned I’ve never had any tests either and I’ve worked in nurseries for years. I’ve done coursework (as you do on the course) I’ve done job interviews (but with cm you have to ‘interview’ with ofsted and with potential parents).
I’ve seen bad childminders too, with outstanding grades, but they must’ve taken in the info on the course and talked the talk (as well as completing all the paperwork) to gain their registration.

I’m not saying the cm training is as in-depth as what you would do to work in a nursery by a long shot. But you can’t just become a childminder overnight there’s a lot of ground work and hoops to jump through.

Haven't read the full thrad but if you set your childcare business up as a limited company so a differwnt legal ' person' would you then be able to claim? Although I am not sure that Ofsted would then class you as a nursery

You can work in a nursery with just a DBS and interview.