Nannies and friends for tea?

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We are thinking of employing a nanny to look after our two girls. The eldest is about to start school, and I would like her to be able to do after school activities and have a friend round for tea occasionally - this is one of the main drawbacks, as I see it, of after school clubs. Would a nanny be able/allowed to look after my two and also a guest child for a couple of hours? I don't envisage it happening very often, maybe once every few weeks or so. If the nanny is part of a formal nanny share (which would mean she was ordinarily looking after two one year olds and a 4.5 year old), does this make a difference? I'd want her to be registered with Ofsted. I'm struggling to get a clear answer on this, and I'd really appreciate advice from anyone who's had an arrangement like this in the past!

the majority of kids in ds8 class are picked up by nannies. even from nursery its never been a problem with playdates. tbh i think the nannies like them as its much easier when their charges have someone to play with after school. as the majority of the nannies don't drive i ususally offer to take their charge home to them when they come and play here.

Yes I often have school friends round for tea :)

Never thought about the more than 2 kids from families and ofsted rules

I think if no payment then should be fine as it is not a job and just a pkaydate iyswim

I have often had 2 friends over from 2 different families and my dc

As a nanny myself (and also considering the nannies that I have placed through The Nanny Tree) play dates have never been a problem, as long as the parent is happy for their child to be in the nannies care during the play date.

It shouldn't make a difference if she is also part of a nanny share as long as all parties are happy and her insurances covers her for the total number of children in her care :)

Shouldnt be a problem

i often had my charges frieds round for tea / to play etc, sometimes for the whole day in the holidays.

I actually liked it when they had friends round as they always played so nicely

The Ofsted rule can be ignored as it isn't for a long period of time. Most playdates are for 2 hours or less.

Nanny Insurance covers up to 6 children in total usually, so as long as you are not inviting lots of children round it isn't a problem.

Where I am it's common for parents to accompany their child on a playdate. Not sure why, now that the children are in Year 1.

Transportation can be an issue sometimes, as with anyone transporting someone else's child - there needs to be a carseat.

Hi there I look after four year old twins girls and a six year old boy.I have children home for tea two or three times a term .I usually have a friend home for the girls and a friend home for the boy.The children are at the same school and know several sets of twins ,on occasion I have had my three plus another set of twins and another single child.I t is lively but I don`t find it any more trouble than with just the three.I am ofsted registered.Mums seem to accompany their children for the first half of reception but recently I find parents just drop their children off.This is probably because they feelthey know me now.

Nannynick, is there an ofsted rule regarding nannies, I thought this was just childminders. I have on lots of occassions had six children in my care at one time.

Number of children is restricted by insurance - 6 is the normal limit with a policy from Sterling (MortonMichel).

Childcare Law may apply to a nanny in situations where they are caring for children from family A, family B and family C at the same time. This has been discussed on here previously in connection with a nannyshare where the nanny brings their own child. Ofsted don't make that rule, it's in the Exemptions From Registration legislation. As yet, no case law, so it's unknown exactly how it would be interpreted if brought before the Care Standards Tribunal.

I wouldn't worry about Ofsted in connection with playdates. They aren't going to find out about it really and if they do they probably won't care, as things like the up to 2-hours and the up to 14 occasions (think it's 14, it's late and I'm not going to look it up) could come into play.

As a nanny, all you need to keep in mind is the limitations of your liability insurance.

thanks Nick grat excuse to get out of visiting relatives kids