Looking after children legally before registration

[Runoutofideas]

Hi,
I am in the process of registering as a childminder, booked on the next course but it doesn't start for another 2 months.
In the meantime, a lady has approached me to look after her children. I want to do this legally and above board. Am I right in thinking the following:

1. If I am her nanny rather than her childminder, then I don't legally have to be registered but the children have to be cared for in her house?
2. If I do the above, they can be in my house for less than 2 hours a day?
3. If I picked up the child from her house and took her to, say, the park, does this count as care from her house or mine?
4. Can I pick up children from school and take them to a cafe/park etc before taking them back to my house so that they are there for less than 2 hours before being collected?

I would be looking after my own children as well (both school age) for some of the time - what on earth do I charge her? Care would be sometimes for 1, sometimes 2 and sometimes 3 of her children, sometimes with mine too, sometimes not.... Would a nanny rate of say £9 ph cover all of them, or should I charge say £4.50 ph (which seems to be the going cm rate round here) per child, which would work out expensive for her. (It is very part-time hours). I want to suggest something that is fair to all parties.
Any advice greatfully received.
Thanks

if the lady really really want you then i would not confuse matters by using your house at all and just be her nanny until your reg comes through

that means looking after her children (and yours) at her home

agree a price just for being her nanny and make it clear this price will change when you are her childminder minding the children in your own home

Don't forget that while you are nannying you will be her employee - she will need to pay tax and National Insurance on top of what she pays you, and you will be entitles to some paid leave. You should also make sure you have insurance and a proper contract to safeguard yourself in case something goes wrong.

Thanks both. Are there sample contracts on a website somewhere that I can check out and adapt accordingly?

Can a nanny not be self-employed, dealing with my own tax etc to make it easier to switch to being a childminder once my registration comes through?

I'm pretty sure you can't be self-employed (I did nearly become a nanny a few years ago and that was certainly what I was told then). I expect a nanny will be a long shortly to confirm and maybe point you towards a suitable contract.

Whereabouts in the country are you OP? I just wanted to add a word of warning that the registration process can be very long. I'm in Wales and did my course in May, I should be registered in the next few weeks. So bear in mind that whatever you agree now could be something you're committing too for 6 months +

Thanks LingDiLong. I'm in Bristol. They did warn me that it is a long process. I am booked on the next introductory session in March which they said would lead to a course starting end April. Can I ask why yours has taken so long since you finished your course?

That's the standard length of time. The course here in Wales is 4 weeks long (only 1 evening per week though), then a 50 page application form which I submitted in September to CSSIW (Welsh Social Services) who take around 16 weeks to process them, check references/do CRB check etc. Then an inspection which I had last week. After the inspection you have to wait for your paper work, i.e your insurance, NCMA start up pack and then finally your registration certificate!

Might be different in England but I had heard it's still a long process there too.

Thanks. I'm hoping it might be a bit speedier here, but they did say to expect it to take about 6 months....

In a way I'm glad it took so long, the fact that I still want to do it after 6 months and a fair amount of work means I'm confident I'm making the right decision.

Good luck with it though, hope it goes through as quickly as possible!

In England you don't have to wait for any courses, you can apply direct to Ofsted.

I think it is disgraceful that many LAs do not adopt the open and honest approach seen in this thread.

MrAnchovy - you may just have saved me about 3 months plus the £235 they want to charge me for doing the course! Why do the LA make it sound as though their course is compulsory - purely financial....? If I go the direct with Ofsted route am I losing out in some way by not having gone through the LA?
Seeing as I have TA and Early Years Play qualifications already, I did wonder if the course would be covering things I already know..... Food for thought - thank you.

I applied to Ofsted directly as my LA was really dragging their feet. They had me on a waiting list for a course for 6 months. As far as I know you will still be expected to complete the CYPOP5 course even if you have preivious early years qualifications but somebody may correct me! I did mine online through MNT Training.

if you are a nanny for less than 6months you can legally be a self employed temporary nanny.

This arrangement cant last for a day over 6months though.

I would suggest looking after the children at their house (and yours there too). Going to the park / cafe etc etc does not = your house

if you are a nanny for less than 6months you can legally be a self employed temporary nanny
Only if a whole load of other conditions are satisfied

This arrangement cant last for a day over 6months though
That's not true either - a genuine self employed arrangement can be permanent

However in this case if you register as a self-employed child carer HMRC should agree that if you are forced temporarily to provide child care at a parent's home this can be income from self employment.

Thanks - I'm just reading all the info on Ofsted's site. It appears that I still have to do the course but the registration process can begin before it is completed, thus speeding up the process. Am I reading that correctly?

I may have saved you some time, but probably not much money I'm afraid.

As part of your registration you will agree to complete a course 'satisfactory to your local authority' within six months of registration. Some LAs will accept any CYPOP5 course (although CYPOP5 is not a complete childcare course in itself, it is just a small module which is an optional part of the the CACHE Level 3 Diploma), but yours may not and require you to go on their course instead.

Crossposted. Yes you are reading that mostly right, although as I say you can actually get your registration before doing the course. The limiting factor is the CRB check and the sooner you get your application in the sooner it will be completed.

Yes - it seems the requirement is to do the course within 6 months of registering, which is fine. I have a CRB check through volunteering at school, which came through quickly, so hopefully the same will be true when applying for another one, and for my husband. Thanks so much for your help.