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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Claiming funding for looking after my son

288 replies

RandomAccessMemory · 11/10/2017 08:08

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.

OP posts:
Iris65 · 11/10/2017 08:28

This reply has been deleted

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Sirzy · 11/10/2017 08:29

Your child gets the benefit of being at home with Mum all day.

Sounds like you want to be paid to be a Mum!

SparklyMagpie · 11/10/2017 08:31

Hahaha I needed a good laugh this morning.

ElizabethShaw · 11/10/2017 08:32

If the OP ran a nursery though presumably she'd be able to claim his funding?

scurryfunge · 11/10/2017 08:32

My son is an adult now. Can I claim back pay?

eyebrowsonfleek · 11/10/2017 08:32

Every SAHM would register as a childminder and just have their kids as their mindees to get money.

RandomAccessMemory · 11/10/2017 08:32

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PoundsShillingsPence · 11/10/2017 08:33

Would you expect a SAHM to be paid the 15 hours if she decides to not send her child to paid childcare but do it herself instead? That isn't how the system works.
You are being very unreasonable expecting to be paid for looking after your own child in your own home.

Pickleypickles · 11/10/2017 08:34

Do you pay yourself to look after your own son ?
Dont be so ridiculous.

ElizabethShaw · 11/10/2017 08:34

The OP isn't a sahm though, she's a registered childcare setting.

Cheekyandfreaky · 11/10/2017 08:34

I typed out a response to explain why what you are suggesting is ridiculous but then realised you must understand that it is and are just looking to wind people up. Good job!

SootSprite · 11/10/2017 08:34

Yeah right...nice try GF. Here, have a Biscuit

LakieLady · 11/10/2017 08:34

The notion that you should be paid for looking after your own child because you happen to be a childminder is one of the most bonkers things I've ever heard.

YABU!

Havingahorridtime · 11/10/2017 08:35

I have 2 preschoolers and I'm a sahm , perhaps I should become a childminder so I can claim funding to look after them. Except I can't and rightly so. If you want to claim funding then you need to send your child to childcare like other working people and then you can fill his space with a child who you can claim funding for.
You have chosen to work from home and keep your child with you.
If people could claim funding for looking after their own kids we wouldn't have any sahps, we would just have lots of registered childminders who have no mindees other than their own children.
With all due respect you sound either batshit crazy or plain greedy - I can't decide which one.

DressedCrab · 11/10/2017 08:36

^^
This

ElizabethShaw · 11/10/2017 08:36

Those saying you can't be paid to look after your own child, would you feel differently if the OP owned a small nursery?

Havingahorridtime · 11/10/2017 08:37

The OP isn't a sahm though, she's a registered childcare setting.

And she can have the funding like other working parents as long as she send her son to another provider.

Original poster
RandomAccessMemory · 11/10/2017 08:37

If the OP ran a nursery though presumably she'd be able to claim his funding?

Exactly! So how is it different because I'm a childminder?

OP posts:
Slartybartfast · 11/10/2017 08:37

you are working from home, your work from home enables you to look after your son at the same time.
what a jammy job you have

Slartybartfast · 11/10/2017 08:38

when does he start school op?

Havingahorridtime · 11/10/2017 08:39

For those asking about if she owned a nursery - if she owned a nursery there would be other people employed to look after her son so it isn't remotely the same.

Hidingalion · 11/10/2017 08:40

It would be interesting to have childcare funds paid to all mothers/primary carers though, wouldn't it? Similar arguments to citizen's wage.
-general taxation pays for 30 hours free childcare for ALL children

  • spreads the load between less and more well off, a progressive redistribution
  • helps with the shameful problem of NRPs not paying for their
  • sends a signal that SAHMs are in fact working
  • more genuine choice for women - work or care for your own child with fewer financial penalties.

The dog-eat-dog neoliberals won't like it though.

NooNooHead · 11/10/2017 08:40

I think I might decide to have another two children, stay at home and ‘work’ looking after them and be paid for it... thinking about it, maybe I should have five more children... oh. Wait. I think that’s not quite how it works. But I could try and argue my point until I’m blue in the face and see if I get my own way?Hmm

Original poster
RandomAccessMemory · 11/10/2017 08:41

when does he start school op?

Why does that matter? Anyway, not until September 2019.

OP posts:
ElizabethShaw · 11/10/2017 08:41

Having - lots of childminders employ other people, would you let them have funding?