can accredited CMs use themselves to care for their preschooler?

[BoysAreLikeDogs]

A CM colleague with a child age 2.5 has recently become accredited with the intention of keeping her child at home and claiming 15 hours per week for doing it from the term after child reaches age 3 until they go to school

Do any of you do this?

I don't think that's legal... how is she going to pay herself?

Well, you are not allowed to use relatives of the child...I would say she counts as a relative.

I did exactly that when I when my daughter was a pre-schooler. She's now 7 so the rules may have changed.

I don't know

yes you can and I know of a number of cm's on various forums who do this. Having said that I haven't checked if the rules changed with the new CoP but not heard anything

A CM can look after their own child, in their own home, while minding other people's offspring. But I don't think you can register as a CM to claim top-up benefits from it.

What's the 15 hours a week about?

My DD is 11 now and I have never been able to do this. My DH could not get childcare vouchers to pay me to look after her (we do live together). If it is your own child in your own home, I would be surprised if anyone had been able to claim anything (unless I have missed a useful loophole).

How funny, I asked this of my Accreditation Supervisor today, who told me to my surprise, that yes you could!

Shoshe, would the CM have to actually CM someone else's children, as well as her own?

It's Nursery Education Funding not benefits or vouchers.

I did care for another child of the same age who I also claimed to funding for at the same time but it was not a requirement.

She didnt say, another CM was here, she has two of her own eligible for the grant and one mindee who will be, she was told she could claim for all three

If she didn't childmind someone elses child at any point during the day, then they wouldn't qualify to be registered as a childminder - as care of a relative does not require registration.

However, if they just did before and after school... and did the 15 hours education with their own child... hmm, don't know.

You don't have to be childminding any children to be registered as a childminder - you just have to fulfil the registration requirements and have some time when you are open for business. After my second baby was born I spent several months without childminded children because of a severe dip in demand but I was still registered and in fact became an accredited childminder during that time - I borrowed friends' children for the assessments.

When I claimed vouchers for my own child I simply kept the same records and provided the same experiences for my own child as I did for the childminded child. I claimed more for my own child as the other one attended two settings. Therefore some sessions were just for my own daughter.

Though the regulator will take action to remove you from the register if you do not have children on roll for an extended period of time (don't think Ofsted say anywhere what the time period is... guess they like to keep it flexible).

I suppose they have to keep that option available for people who do not intend to childmind but want to be registered for some reason. I can't think why anyone would do that but there probably is some reason for someone to do it.

Yes, such as Grandparents registering to mind their own grandchildren, so they can be paid using tax credits. Think there's a recent mumsnet thread about that.

sorry, I didn't say she already minds other children, ofsted registered

she recently went through the accreditation hoops to get payment for caring for her own child instead of sending her to playgroup from age 3

When registering we were told in no uncertain terms that you cannot claim anything for minding your own children.

I think I read somewhere, but don't shoot me down, that if you are registered to provide childcare, either as a nanny or childminder, you cannot claim the 15 hours NEF even if you send your child to a nursery.

I did that too. My dd had a year of pre-school funded by the NEF. As she only went part time I claimed the rest to cover sessions with me. Maybe each county has it's own rules.

How much money do you get for the accredited children? Is it your standard fee or a set amount?

It's a set amount which just about matched the rate I charged at the time but I'm not claiming the funding at the moment so I don't know if it has gone up. They pay you once a term.I was paid in a lump sum once a term.

Ah thanks... I guess it might be worth looking into... anyone else know how much the set amount is?

it varies according to your local authority. There are enhancements for having children from 'disadvantaged areas' and living within a certain number on miles from London. No top up fees allowed. I think I am getting about £3.80ph at the moment

If you don't have any children on roll for 3 years Ofsted will de-register you.

Currently, to claim for tax credits purposes grandparents who register as cm's must lso care for a non-related child.

Cm's cannot claim any childcare vouchers etc for caring for their own chn BUT they can claim the Early Years Entitlement(formally nursery education grant)for providing early years funded sessions their own eligible children instead of (or as well as) sending them to a pre-school - for up to 570 hours pa (15 hours pw term time)

I AM ALWAYS AMAZED AT THE INFORMATION I CAN GET FROM YOU GUYS.

THANKS A LOT MNers

"Cm's cannot claim any childcare vouchers etc for caring for their own chn BUT they can claim the Early Years Entitlement(formally nursery education grant)for providing early years funded sessions their own eligible children instead of (or as well as) sending them to a pre-school - for up to 570 hours pa (15 hours pw term time)"

Nannies can't do this can they? :(