what are the laws around baby sitting? - I want to set up a casual arrangement

[PeppyPiggy]

I'm thinking of setting up casual baby sitting arrangements, in my home, during the day time (I study evenings). I'd like to baby sit for a small side income, even a few quid an hour, while looking after my 23 month old.

I had a brief look online around what is required of someone to be able to babysit and there was a long list of stuff including courses in babysitting? Public liability insurance, training, the list goes on..

I'm good to do DBS checks and I've done first aid. Am I required to accomplish the insurances, qualifications, registrations and so on to be able to baby sit at home for a few hours a week with my LO? I'm hoping to be able to advertise on Childcare.co.uk, I can see there are other baby sitters on there with no insurance and who aren't Ofsted registered etc ..But are they putting themselves at risk? I baby sat before having my LO and never had to do anything and never had any problems from it however I hate to do things outside of the rules, so if anyone knows what they are please share? Much appreciated

Would you not be a childminder rather than a baby sitter

You babysit in the child's house, the parents pay you, you go home. you childmind in your own house-max 2 hours a day unless registered with ofsted. Need numerous courses and public liability insurance.

Babysitters sit at the childs home. Childminders mind in their own home.

If you wish to charge money for childcare in your home you will need insurance, to register as self employed and do tax returns and be ofsted inspected.

okay got it, looking after a child in my home would classify me as a child minder, not a babysitter? Struggling now to find any means of income that I can do while looking after my LO as she has no childcare

You could weigh up the pros and cons of registering as a CM. I did it when my DD was tiny and I'm still doing it as I wave her off to university.

Dog walking?

Are you likely to be eligible for 2 year old funding for your dc? If so, they would be eligible for 15 hours of childcare from the term after they are 2, which I presume would be in January. That would give you some free time in which to earn some money.

Would parents really want evening childcare in your home?

drspouse what a valuable contribution

Well actually it's a valid point. No worth in starting a business that has no interest.

Do you actually want to work with children or do you see it as an easy way to earn some money?
If you actually want to work with children, could you look into doing some kind of apprenticeship at a nursery, your dd could attend with you (if money is tight, do you qualify for tax credits?) or do you think registering to become a childminder might work?

The poster said it's during the day childcare as she studies in the evening

@snapthecat... she was being sarcastic... As I mentioned in the question "I'm thinking of setting up casual baby sitting arrangements, in my home, during the day time (I study evenings)"

Sorry, I misread.
In which case - you are then a childminder. But you can often take a smaller child to a babysitting job in the employer's home.

@Maryann1975 I'm currently doing a masters in child psychology, it's very intense however it is centred around attachment theory and I aim to work with mothers who have complications in forming healthy attachments with their children.. In that sense I will be working with children but not in terms of childcare. If I weren't so passionate about this then I would definitely be working with children, it's always been my second option. I'm now looking into setting up childminding to see if I am able to set this up while studying

I don't think they were being sarcastic, I think it was (as with me) an oversight because you say casual babysitting arrangements. Most people who require day time childcare will need a more committed arrangement.

And yes you need to register as a childminder.

@drspouse, I hadn't thought of that, thank you! (not being sarcastic)

As others said in your own home You would need to be reg as a cm

You prob would be better off going to someone house with your child at a reduced rate

Babysitting is usually termed evening care when child is in bed sleep

Daytime care is usually termed nannying if in their home

Or other ways to earn money at home

Dog walking
Ironing
Sewing

If you want to get started pretty quickly, to do it as part of your degree, you may be better nannying in their home, or working an a nursery, because it can take quite a while to register as a CM.

Registering as a childminder is a lengthy, expensive and timely process and definitely not something I'd do, or recommend you do, if childminding isn't actually the end goal. I think it would take a very long time to make your money back, by which time you will probably already have finished your studies. I would look into nannying.

You can look after children for up to 2 hours in your own home without being Ofsted registered as a childminder. So if there is a school near you that doesn't have after school club you could do pick ups from 3.30 til 5.30 say. Could be a valuable service.