PLI / NCMA - is there a cheaper way?

[fantus]

I have asked a few questions on here recently and always received really good advice so I am hoping for more of the same

I registered as a childminder early this year but did not take on any mindees and went back to my old job 3 days a week.

I have been approached by a family looking for childcare for just one day a week. It fits in with my other job and it is something I would like to do as I don't want all my training and registration to go to waste.

I am due to start minding in early January and have just had a look on the NCMA website re becoming a member and PLI. All together the cost is over £90 plus I would need to purchase the contracts and possibly some other paperwork bringing my costs up to around £120. I realise that in order to take on mindees I need the insurance but was wondering if there was a cheaper way? My reasons being 1. I can't really afford £120 at this time, 2. I will only be minding for one child one day a week and have no plans to leave my other job to take on any more and 3. when visiting the mother mentioned she needed the childcare as she works 3 days a week and her nursery could only provide a space for 2. I got the feeling that if a third day became available she would take it up with the nursery - this is the main reason I don't want to fork out a large lump sum now only to be childminding for a short time and not actually need the membership / PLI etc.

So, is there a cheaper way of getting the PLI and some contracts for use?

TIA

Reality, that would be great, thank you.

I had thought that you had to be a member of the NCMA to use their contracts, is that not the case?

Also, is there a particular PLI I need as a childminder or one that covers specific things?

Morton Michel has policies starting from £44. Policy Summary (PDF)

I don't know how the regulator (Ofsted if in England) decides what is and isn't suitable in terms of PLI. I suspect it may be a case that they are aware of the major providers of it to the childcare industry and thus assume that you would have something from one of those providers.

In childminding terms, only providers I know of are NCMA (Royal & Sun Alliance, Group policy RTT 161353 - you MUST be an NCMA member) and Morton Michel (Sterling Insurance Company Ltd). You can't go to the underwriters (Royal & Sun Alliance / Sterling Insurance Company) directly for these policies they have to be arranged via NCMA / Morton Michel respectively.

There are other underwriters who cover Nurseries (for example Zurich, via Dot2Dot) but I don't think they provide cover for Childminding.

MortonMichel provides contracts - £12 for pack of 6 but I think you could also use your own.

You don't have to be a member to use ncma contracts but if you're a member you have to use their contracts to be covered by the insurance.

You can get ncma membership and Morton Michel insurance or just Morton Michel insurance but you have to be a member to insure with ncma if that makes sense, there are a few differences in the insurance.

With Morton Michel you can use either their contracts or whichever you want.

Thanks everyone, I have had a look at the Morton Michel website. I think that way may be the way to go, it's a lot less than what I would need to pay for the NCMA.

And thanks again Reality for the contracts, I'll have a good look at them tomorrow when I am mumsnetting working from home

I am with Morton Michel. Much cheaper. Got their contracts too.

I use Morton Michel and am not a member of NCMA. I use all of my own paperwork including contracts.

Also, as far as I know, you only need PLI from the day that you actually start minding. So you could sign the contract with the mum now and then purchase the PLI the day before the child actually starts in January. That way if mum gets a nursery place before then you will not have wasted your money.

You could also ask the mum for a deposit to hold the place. I normally ask for a 4 week deposit but if they make a big fuss then I lower it to 2 weeks. The deposit can be used as payment for the last month's fees. If they decide not to take up the place then I get to keep the deposit. If you took a deposit then you could use that to pay for the PLI.

I too am with MM and use their contracts, they are fab!

Thanks again, I think I will go with MM for the PLI. I had hoped to hold off on purchasing it but he will be coming in December for some settling in days so I am presuming I will need my insurance in place for then.

Off to ebay now to look for a double buggy

I would also ask for a non returnable deposit before you go spending any money so at least you won't be out of pocket if a place comes up at nursery after xmas.