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Paid childcare

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Paying grandparents for childcare

12 replies

lightbulbooo · 28/07/2018 15:49

My MIL has offered to have my 2 year old so that I can work full time as she has recently retired. We've talked briefly about paying her for her time but neither of us know how much to suggest. We're talking 9-5 kind of hours plus 30 minute commute over four days. Plus my husband will be home first about 4pm on three of those days.
Any suggestions? She said "just a bit of money" but I don't even know where to start?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
AlbertaSimmons · 28/07/2018 15:52

What do other childcare settings charge for those hours? Can you find that out, share the info with her and ask her if she will accept half? Two-thirds? Equivalent? Whatever you feel you can afford?

WooWoo1000 · 28/07/2018 15:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bezm · 28/07/2018 16:01

If you're going to pay her, it is income that she will have to declare for tax and NI purposes. However, if you just give her expenses, she will not.

PotteringAlong · 28/07/2018 16:07

I think if you pay her you need to be clear whether you’re her employer or she’s your employee for things like sickness pay, national insurance etc

Readyfortheschoolhols · 28/07/2018 16:10

I used to look after dgs 3 days a week.
For free.. Because I wanted to help dil +ds have an easier time financially - not to make money from them!

BackforGood · 28/07/2018 17:12

If you are paying someone for more than 2 hours a day, don't they then have to be OFSTED registered, etc ?
Gets complicated.

ADastardlyThing · 28/07/2018 17:15

My SIL asked for £70 per week for 8.30am-5.30pm.

She was happy to be paid a bit of 'spends' as she called it to spend time with a baby :)

Maybe ask MIL what she'd be happy with and work from there?

(I doubt she declared it btw, none of my business though!)

happyasasandboy · 28/07/2018 17:56

If you are paying someone for more than 2 hours a day, don't they then have to be OFSTED registered, etc ?

If you are paying someone to look after your child in the child's home (eg a normal nanny situation) then there is no need for registration with Ofsted.

If you're paying someone to look after your child for more than two hours per day not in the child's home, then the carer needs to be registered.

Info here - www.gov.uk/register-childminder-childcare-provider :

"You must register with Ofsted or a childminder agency if you want to be paid to look after children under 8 for more than 2 hours a day in England."

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 28/07/2018 17:58

A direct relative doesn’t have to register under any circumstance.

jannier · 28/07/2018 20:08

A grandparent doesn't have to be registered.

If you use someone who is registered you can access the various schemes - Childcare vouchers - schemes started before October 2018, Tax free childcare, tax credits (up to 70%) and they can access 2 and 3 year old funding (but not as a childminder caring for relatives).

Consider what you will do if she is ill, wants to take holidays or finds it too much, as well as if her attitude conflicts with yours many can not separate granny duties done occasional with childcare and respecting that I have had my children and raised them my way my children need to do the same - all things to talk through before you start as common problems down the line. Some decide to do a part grandparent part professional setting to get around some of this.

itsaboojum · 29/07/2018 07:34

There is no requirement for a grandparent to register with Ofsted.

They should declare to HMRC any money you give them, but may be able to have it written off as reasonable expenses. HMRC may determine they are employed, self-employed or neither, in which case the money is treated as an 'additional income' for whatever way in which they are currently assessed for tax. An accountant or certified tax advisor will be helpful in getting this clarified initially.

If the grandparents are still building up qualifying years of National Insurance payments towards the state pension, they should apply for Specified Adult Childcare Credits.

You might also consider using an Ofsted registered childcare provider for those reasons already stated by other contributors.

Whether you use grandparents or a registered provider, make sure you are very clear about expectations, boundaries, rules, etc. before commencing any arrangement. Very few people do this: they often just assume their way of bringing up children is the only way and it doesn’t occur to them that another person might do things differently. This can lead to awkward situations, disagreements or even quite acrimonious falling out, which is worse if family is involved. (In a sense, this is even more important when family members are providing the childcare, since there are no written guidelines, regulations, policies, contracts, etc. to serve as a point of reference.) So think to plan ahead, rather than running into trouble.

Lauren83 · 31/07/2018 14:56

My mum has my 6 month DS whilst I work and I give her £30 a day, she is retired. I make sure there's food in the house and leave money incase she needs to buy anything

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