Can you be a childminder in the child's own home?

[COCKadoodledooo]

Or is that a nanny? What's the difference?

I'm looking for work atm, but the problem I have is that there's just no childcare available locally. I talked to the lady from the Children's Information Service this morning, and she suggested I become a childminder myself, thus solving two problems!

The difficulty is that our house is v tiny! Fine enough for the 4 of us, and for ds1 to have someone back to play after school, but I'm not sure about having a couple of toddlers running about on wet days, that sort of thing. Is there a legal minimum size of property?

Just thought I could get round that by only offering care in the child's own home, although that would mean taking ds2 (16mo) with me. I dunno, is that even a vague possibility?

in that case you would be a 'nanny with own child' (nwoc). you cannot be self employed as a nanny. so if you want to be a nanny, you need to find a family to employ you, who would be prepared to let you bring along your own child. you should expect to be paid a bit less for bringing your own child along.

childminders work in their own homes and are self-employed.

nannies work in the family's home / homes (in event of nanny share) and are employed by the family / families.

For childminding (so that is care from your home) there are minimum space requirements:

children under two years: 3.5 m2 per child;
two year olds: 2.5 m2 per child;
children aged three to five years: 2.3 m2 per child.

To work out what space you have, use newspaper sheets. Make 1m x 1m squares. Then lay those out around the rooms that you would mostly use - so the lounge and playroom (if you have one).

You have 2 children of your own... they will affect the number of children for whom you could care if they are under age 8 (which DS2 is).

I have what I think is a very small house and i have still been reg'd for the full numbers.

Thank you. Rima thanks for clarifying the difference re employed/self employed, I didn't know that.

And nannynick thanks for the space requirements too. I assumed there would be some but the CIS lady didn't know. And thick question - but is it just floorspace, or do sofas etc count?! Could I also count the kitchen (dining kitchen) because that's also where we'd do crafty stuff, and play doh, that sort of thing?

Both my boys are under 8, but the eldest is 7 now - would he still be able to have his pals back after school if I were childminding?

I can't remember how the regulator does space requirements these days - perhaps one of the childminders on here can help with that.

If your DS1 had a friend come over that friend would be counted in your adult:child ratio during times that you are childminding.

Anither thing to consider is that people are much more sympathetic to childminders whose experience is of having their own children than to nannies with the same experience, especially when that nanny want to bring their own child with them.

You can't include kitchen, bathroos or hallways in your space. Also not sofas, beds.

Organise the furniture as best you can to maximise space and flow, and organisation and storage is the key to a childminders home!

yy to including sons friends in your ratios. I always make sure i have a quieter day each week to allow 'space' for friends.

You can childmind in the parents' home, but I don't know anyone who does it. The NCMA did a lot of publicity for this type of childminder a while ago.
It's the same sort of thing as a nanny, except you're self-employed.

Not since the EYFS. It was a thing called 'homechildcarer'. Only way to do it is to CM from the childs own home plus mind another child there at the same time. If you only have one client on a permanent basis you are usually classed as employed rather than SE -afaik anyway

Oh, I see. I thought I remembered the publicity about it. I don't remember it being a popular choice, even then.

Thanks again for the info. Looks like I can only count our lounge then, I'll move some furniture and do some measuring!