Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Paid childcare

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

Flip

Original poster

Thinking about becoming a registered childminder.....

11 replies

Paula1 · 29/04/2007 20:19

... to look after a friend's child during the school holidays, she is a single parent and would (apparently) get the care paid for by the government if I were registered. I am currently a trained Montessori teacher and have two of my own children 9 and 4, her child is 4. I'm not planning to do this as a business, just to help a friend, and also her dd and mine are friends. What does anyone think - is it worth the hassle? Thanks Paula

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

PinkChick · 29/04/2007 20:27

are you working at min through hols? would you haev to give anything up to do it work/benefit wise?..in this area, for a full timer you would get about £120 a week, depends on if that would sustain you and your household?

Original poster

Paula1 · 29/04/2007 20:31

no, I don't work during the hols, just term time only, it would just be for fun really and also so that my friend can leave her daughter with someone that she knows already

OP posts:

nannynick · 29/04/2007 20:51

May be easier to register as a nanny, and care for the children at your friends home. That process could be quicker. See www.childcareapprovalscheme.co.uk

Ofsted registration as a childminder could easily take 3 months.

Is the parent sure they would get ALL the care paid for? I thought max amount was 80% and there is also a cap on the weekly amount. However I don't fully understand the tax credits system, so I could easily be wrong.

PinkChick · 30/04/2007 14:05

less training required if you were to be her nanny, but once you ahve the cm training under your belt, you may find you love it and you can get more work fom it?..good luck

Original poster

Paula1 · 30/04/2007 18:06

Thanks for that, it doesn't look like the childcare approval scheme will work for me as my friend wants me to look after her child in my home (I live on the way to work), I think you are right she will not get 100% subsidised, but most. I was just trying to help her, and a playmate for my daughter at the same time, but it looks like it will be too much just for holiday cover. I'm not sure that I want to be a childminder all the time, I think I prefer it in the nursery. Thanks for your help everyone.

OP posts:

PinkChick · 30/04/2007 19:38

well the course i did was 12 weeks for three hours in an evening, then a six week first aid course, again of an evening..once youve got it, you are free to cm whenever you wish..i think its a good idea, but it will take a while to get through the training and become registered.

PinkChick · 30/04/2007 19:38

oh and shed get up to 80% paid dependant upon income.HTH

Original poster

Paula1 · 07/05/2007 17:37

Pinkchick, thanks for your help, it doesn't sound too onerous after all, is the course an annual thing or one off? Sorry to reply so late but I have been away. Thanks Paula

OP posts:

ThePrisoner · 07/05/2007 23:48

It's a one-off course. The first aid course needs renewing every three years.

lljkk · 08/05/2007 00:10

When would you want to start minding your friend's child, Paula1? It took my friend 18 months to get registred -- every time she sent a bit of paper off to Ofsted (or CRB) they took 6 months to reply or process it.

nappyaddict · 08/05/2007 02:47

your friend won't get help if you are her nanny. i think its something to do with the fact they have to be registered with ofsted and nannys aren't.

Flip