My mother for childcare?

[LG123]

I am considering paying my mum to have the little one 2 days a week when I go back to work and have read this page:

www.mumsnet.com/jobs/childcare-by-a-relative

Quote (bottom if said page):
Can I pay a relative to care for my child?

You are allowed to pay a family member to look after your child in your own or your relative’s home without them being registered as a childminder. But remember, if you’re considering having a friend to look after your baby (in their own home), for it to be a legal arrangement, they must be registered.

I have also read the same on babycentre.co.uk, just can't use vouchers, tax free or tax credits.

Is it true? As on previous posts people have said categorically it's illegal but this says otherwise!? I don't want to break the law...

Yes, they are a direct relative - paying them is fine in terms of childcare law.

It is entirely legal for grandparents to provide childcare.

Ofsted are the regulators of childcare in the U.K.. they publish a document called Early Years and childcare registration handbook which you can download from their website (document number 150150.) towards the back of the document you’ll find Annexe A, no requirement to register a table in which item 3 covers childcare provided by family members.

So there you have it in black and white for peace of mind.

It is true that you cannot use government payment schemes such as Tax Free Childcare, vouchers or 'free' hours. These can only be claimed through registered providers. This quite often results in people paying more for non-registered childcare than they would for a proper registered childminder, nursery, etc.

Strictly speaking, your mother should declare the income for tax purposes, but a reasonable amount will usually pass as exempt from taxation. She should check with a tax advisor, accountant or call HMRC for information.

Your mother might also be able to make use of the government's specified adult childcare credits scheme, which offers National Insurance credits for family carers.

Thanks guys! She has offered to do it for nothing but considering she works full time and probably has better things to do with the time off she does have I would feel I was taking the mick if I didn't reward her with something! So thank you for clarifying I'm not breaking the law....!

I know I can't use tax credits and whatever to pay her but it works out a bit cheaper for me to have her at a childminder 3 days a week and my mum 2 days a week. My mum's offered and won't take more than £100 per month! She's refusing lol. She's A star really. I think it because she wants to me to really feel the benefit.

I did originally look at nursery but I work 10-2 Monday to Friday and every nursery I looked at wants me to pay a full day as it's in the middle rather than 8-1 so I'll be charged full time at £1000 a month so a childminder for school hours is cheaper than that. I also thought it would be quite nice for her to really bond with the little one as although my dad is around, I don't see him much so she will only really have my mum's side of the family (which is huge) in her life in a big way (she has an absent father ).

It sounds like a very good solution. Just a word of caution because forewarned is forearmed.

Be sure you are prepared emotionally. The bonding you mention can occasionally lead to jealousy.

On a similar note, be sure to communicate well and be clear about expectations. Family childcare arrangements can result in disagreements or worse, whether it big issues such as smacking, or little things like sweets and ice creams. You really don’t have to look far on message boards like this to find some quite acrimonious fall-outs over all manner of things.

I’m not saying it will happen that way. Just be aware it can happen, so you have ground rules and a way of discussing any differences in your respective approaches to child rearing.