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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

Should I become a Childminder?

17 replies

JustUs2 · 20/03/2006 11:45

Hi, I'm new here.

I work 5 hours a week in a job I don't like anymore and will soon be quitting. My friend has a 10-month old son and is returning to work part time in mid-April. She has asked me to look after her son on Mondays & Tuesdays all day and she will pay me. I said yes before realising that to do this I would have to be a registered childminder. I would love to do this for her, but am concerned that I would not be able to get registered in time. I am not interested in looking after any more children - only hers. Would that fact speed up the registration process?

Also, I have already been CRB checked as I work in a primary school, will this need to be done again before I can become a childminder?
Will all the same rules apply even though I won't be childminding for anyone else - just to help out my friend?
Sorry for all the questions but here's another - when you have a pre-registration inspection, are ALL rooms inspected or only the ones you will be using? I would only be using living room, kitchen and bathroom (very small house).
Thanks for any help/advice/answers you can give - it's all rather bewildering!

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HappyMumof2 · 20/03/2006 12:32

there would be no different rules. It takes approx 3 mths - regardless of number of children etc. They also like to do their own CRB check, which can slow things up a bit, and you have to have a health declaration from your GP.

No way you would be registered by April - could you do it at her home until your registration comes through?

They normally check only the rooms you are going to use, but may give other rooms the once over, just to check they are not full of dangerous stuff etc! unless the room is going to be locked and in accessible to children.

HTH

Isyhan · 20/03/2006 13:20

Im not sure if you accept payment that it matters much where you mind does it? After all many cmders mind together in one house but you have to register if you accept payment of any kind I was told.

HappyMumof2 · 20/03/2006 13:25

I mean as a nanny, not a childminder

nannynick · 20/03/2006 13:33

Easy soluition would be to care for the child, at the child's own home - working as a nanny. You would be an Employee, so child's parents need to register as an Employer and make Tax and NI deductions on your behalf.

As far as I know, if you can't Register as a Childminder anymore, if you only intend to care for one child. This is to try to prevent people registering and caring for relatives (such as grandparents caring for grandchildren). If you go down th Registering as a Childminder, don't mention to ANYONE that you are intending to only work for one family, pretend you will take on others - but you know it works out, you just don't seem to fill your vacancies.

Pre-Registration inspection would inspect all rooms used for childminding. If you don't intend to use a bedroom, then make sure the inspector knows that. Also you would then need to make suitable arrangements for a rest area in the living room.

How far along the process have you got? Have you contacted your local EYDCP yet with regard to getting the paperwork and ICP training course sorted out?

Original poster

JustUs2 · 20/03/2006 15:18

Thanks for your replies :)
I am unable to become a Nanny at my friend's house as she lives in a different town and I do not have a car - also I would be required to look after her son from 8am, but would have to be here in my town to take my daughter to school at 8.45.
I didn't know you couldn't become a childminder just to look after one child. That seems a bit strange...what happens if you need to look after a relative's child then? Do you not have to be registered to do that?
As for how far along the process I've got - umm...I haven't :) I just needed to know more about it, but I'm starting to think I might have to let my friend down.

OP posts:

hana · 20/03/2006 15:19

of course you could becomke a childminder and just intend on looking after one child, it's your business

HappyMumof2 · 20/03/2006 16:06

I don't think this is true, that you can't register any more to care for one child. After all, relatives are encouraged, and legally required to register to care for a child (if it's not a VERY close relative) also a cm has to be registered in order for parents to claim tax credits etc.
I am registered for 4 children but have never been asked how many I plan to have.
I only have one mindee and only plan to ever have one, as my own two children are still young. I've never had any pressure from EYD or anyone else to take more than one child!

HellyBelly · 20/03/2006 17:12

Must admit I've not heard anything about having to have more than one mindee. I know a few minders who only have 1 either due to the ages of their children or because they only want 1 child.

I wouldn't let that part put you off but I'd be worried about the timescales as there is definitely no way you'd get through it that quick (well, I'd be very very surprised if you did)

zippitippitoes · 20/03/2006 17:28

grandparents can register to look after a grandhcild in their home, I think it's only the parents who can't

Isyhan · 20/03/2006 18:14

you can look after anyones child but not be registered you just cant accept payment I thought. So if you looked after a relatives child you could but the relative couldnt then pay you.

ThePrisoner · 20/03/2006 23:04

You can be registered to look after whatever number of children Ofsted decide you can have (maximum of 3 under 5 years, and 3 aged 5-8 years) - you can choose to have as many or as few children as you want within the limits of your registration.

I know plenty of minders who choose to have one mindee only and offer one-to-one care, and also know many grandparents who have registered solely to be able to care for their own grandchildren. No-one can tell us who we can and can't mind.

Original poster

JustUs2 · 21/03/2006 09:39

So let me get this straight.
If you are looking after someone else's child for more than 2 hours a day and accepting payment you need to be registered.
If you are NOT getting paid you STILL need to be registered? Is that right?
What about grandparents - if my daughter went for a weekend at her grandparent's house, are they supposed to be registered even though I'm not paying them?

Getting a bit confused, sorry

OP posts:

Jensmum · 21/03/2006 11:59

If you're not getting paid you don't have to register.

diddle · 21/03/2006 12:36

if you aren't getting paid then you don't need to be registered.
Grandparents don't need to be registered if they're not getting paid

zippitippitoes · 21/03/2006 12:39

sorry I was misleading with the relatives and grandparents..obviously they don't have to register but if they do want to be paid they can register and the government contribution towards nursery expenses can be paid to them

Original poster

JustUs2 · 21/03/2006 14:46

Thanks for clearing up my confusion (I'm not that hard to confuse! LOL)

Well, I can't decide what to do. I'll either tell my friend I'm not going to do it at all, or I might decide to register as a CM and just look after her son for free until then.
I'll have to give it some more thought.

Thanks everyone for your help! :)

OP posts:

Isyhan · 21/03/2006 16:46

i was told its payment of any kind aswell. so if you were looking after someones child but not getting money but they treated you to a holiday once a year that would also be counted as payment.

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