What are the rules for looking after other peoples children without being a childminder?

[lynniep]

I'm asking 'cos my son just got into my second choice school (and thus doesnt have a place at their cheaper out of school club) and the childminder I have him booked in with costs a bomb (For morning and after school care) She is the only childminder in the village that does school runs so I have no alternative option.

I had the idea that you dont have to be a registered childminder if you look after a child for less than two hours a week.

Now if I were to get a neighbour to take him to school for me (could I pay her or would that be illegal - and what about paying in return childcare, also for less than two hours?) for four days a week, he would be in her home from 8.15 until 8.45 then she would walk him to school, so he would be in her home for no more than two hours per week.

(I think I'm just going to fork out for after school)

thanks for any responses in advance.

Some legislation links:
The Childcare (Exemptions from Registration) Amendment 2010
The Childcare Act 2006 - Chapter 3, Later Years Provision

I had the idea that you dont have to be a registered childminder if you look after a child for less than two hours a week.

It's less than 2 hours a day. However it's not on a per-child basis but on a per-day basis, so could not care for children totalling up to exceeding 2 hours a day (day being 2am to 6pm).

In terms of return childcare... the first link above is the one you need.

"a child or children in the course of a friendship with the parents of that child or children; and the provision is not made in exchange for payment.?

You neighbour would be a friend of yours I presume if you are to trust them to care for your child. So it is fine to do it for return childcare as long as there is no payment involved.

?payment? means a payment of money or money?s worth, but does not include the provision of goods or services. As the legal speak says... but put more simply means that you can't pay using money, or a voucher of some kind but could exchange for cutting their grass, or in this case caring for their child.

If neighbour has him after school as well, that's also fine... as the 2 hour rule does not apply when it's care between friends. If your neighbour however then cared for other children as well as your and their own, then that could then start to fall under Childcare Act 2006.

To keep it above board, never pay her money. Instead exchange a service, such as caring for her child/children, cutting the grass.

thank you Nick, thats really helpful. yes I mean a friend (who happens to be a neighbour - her kids go to the same school so she does the run anyway)

Yes but is your friend reliable and also what will happen during the school holidays?

Will your friend be able to look after your son all day?

its not an issue scarf. As I said above I dont need her to look after him all day. I dont expect her to do the job of a childminder. She's a mum like me. All I was asking about was 4 mornings before school to try and reduce costs a bit because my (school-run) childminder costs loads. In return I can pick up her kids and watch them for an hour or two on the two afternoons I don't work. I have 2 childminders to cover school holidays where I cant get him into holiday clubs.