To become a childminder to look after friend's DD?

[Pelicanpinkpants]

My friend at school works irregular days and hours and is always struggling for after school childcare. I help out where I can but it is a constant source of stress for her trying to arrange childcare.

AIBU to offer to look after her DD in return for payment? I've looked at the Ofsted regulations and it says that you can look after a friend's child for under 3 hours a day and not have to register as a childminder.

It would suit both of us as I have a very flexible part time job, but could use the extra cash and she needs a permanent childminder.

The only thing that puts me off is the money aspect. It feels wrong taking money off her for a service I have previously offered for free.

How much would I even charge?

So would you be looking after her daughter for long enough that you would be required to register?

If you're both happy to do it then you should discuss all aspects if it together such as ground rules and costs to reach an agreement.

I will say one thing though, as a former childminder I had a strict "no friends" policy in that I would not childmind for friends as it had the potential to cause too many complications.

YANBU looking after your friend's DD in return for payment
Keep the arrangement informal to begin with e.g. the first year because situations may change/not work out for either of you.
So it's a lot of costs/ hoops to jump through to be a registered childminder if it does not work out.
You could sit down and have a discussion about it and the money side of things because if she is a good friend she should not expect you to do it for free.
I think she would be happy and relieved that she had someone who could depend...as you say it's stressful trying to find decent childcare.
I think it is a win win situation for the both of you

If you aren't registering or following ofsted guidelines then you need to be very cheap for her to consider paying you. Otherwise she could pay for official childcare?

Just suggest it to her, you would no longer be doing her a favour as such but instead working for her so you shouldn’t feel awkward about the money. As for charges, I’m about to start paying dp’s auntie £50 for 2 full days a week.

Maybe work out what the actual after school club costs and offer to do it for half of that?

You don't need to register as a childminder to look after your friends dd every now and then. Infact it would be more trouble than it's worth. Just ask her if she would be willing to pay you, if not tell her you can't do it anymore. You would only need to register if she was going to claim tax relief on her childcare, then she would need a registration number.

bobstersmum No, that's the whole point of this. She can't find 'official' childcare.

Also, the school club is only £9. So offering to do it for half that...doesn't really seem worth my time. I always might be providing a hot meal and snacks, drinks, etc.

That job sounds like a nightmare. Did she know it would be so irregular when she accepted the position?

How can she plan anything at all?

Obviously you would need to declare any extra income it generated.

Well if its 3 days a week after school club would cost 27 so offer for 20? You are doing it for free now, £20 a week would add up and pay for a shop at the end of the month? And you coyote perhaps tell her you have had to ask for extra hours at work because you need the money, so wouldn't then be able to look after her dd. That opens it up for you to suggest her paying you.

Youd need to register as self employed too.

I'd feel much happier paying my friend to help out than expecting them to do it for free.

Doyoumind I'm already self employed, so very much aware of that

Childminders around my area charge about 5-6 an hour.

So you’re planning on looking after her DD for more than 3 hours a day but not registering?

butterandbread LESS than 3 hours a day after school.

Just set the price you're happy with and see if she'll pay it.

You don't have to beat anyone else's price. One of the attractions of your "service" is that you are a friend and therefore trusted.

If you don't need to register with Ofsted for the hours you'll do then you aren't really "becoming a childminder".

You can only broach the subject and see what she says. If you are flexible then it will be a bonus to her. Do charge the going rate - as that is fair to you both. And use the government guidelines to draw up a contract and put boundaries in place e.g. I am only allowed to work for less than X number of hours or it will be illegal - so that you don't get a phone call telling you she will be an hour late.
Discuss what happens in school holidays.
Discuss what happens if your child is ill.
Discuss/agree meals
What happens on the days your child has an after school activity
What happens if your child is invited for a play date
What happens if her child is invited for a play date
How much notice do each of your require to change the arrangement
How will payment be made and the terms of it.

Good luck.

I would charge £7 per hour so £21 for 3 hours to make it worth my while. Wouldnt be worth restricting yourself for less.

If after school is only £3 an hour then unless you are much cheaper she may as well use the experienced childcare and facilities. Most operate for three hours and she needs less.

I pay my friend , she earns a low wage and I figure that my kids are happy , and she gets extra £ . I would far rather do this than a registered one that I don’t know from Adam .
I pay her £10 per hour but I overpay a bit

Win win . And it’s for such a short period it’s hardly a Tax scam