Help understanding childcare rules...

[jillandhersprite]

So lots of mums on the class WhatsApp worrying about the first few weeks of term while school sorts out pickup/dropoff times by year group.
I am not working so could potentially do this for maybe 1 other family, possibly might be able to do 2. I have been reading and rereading the gov website and I think that if I want some kind of remuneration then it's simply not possible without registering formally and all the costs inherent with that... Which means theres no point...
But I keep coming back to this bit that I've screenshot... You do not have to register if you are a family friend looking after for less than 3 hours a day.
I'm not looking to start a new career - I just thought I might be able to make a bit of money in September while things settle down and then once I know how it's looking with regard to school, covid and the start/finish at our particular school, then I can start working out how to get a 'proper' job...
I don't want to do anything illegal but at the same time there's no point registering as having looked at the costs I'm unlikely to earn enough to cover the cost of the 2 registers (my kids are 4 and 7 and easier for me to take a family that is in one of their classes but with siblings likely to mean ages across the primary school) and all the security checks on me and husband... So a bit unsure what to do...
I don't want to offer on the class WhatsApp as I've a feeling you guys will tell me that it's highly illegal and if I get caught getting any kind of remuneration for doing it I'll be in big trouble...

Arghhh how do I add a screenshot on Android phone??? Might take me a few minutes to do that... Hang on!!!

If you offer on the class WhatsApp group I think everyone will assume you're offering for free. I can imagine you with a houseful of kids, no money and simmering resentment towards the parents!

As a registered childminder I would urge you to approach this with caution.
You are right you can provide care for a maximum of three hours per day without being registered. However you are still responsible for the wellbeing and safeguarding of those children and will be liable if any of the parents or children make a complaint or allegation against you. As you won't be registered you won't be insured do there would be little support to bank you up in these situations.
Your home is going to take on a lot of wear and tear, more than you expect.
Also and I say this with years of experience I would never look after a child who was in the same year group as my child. If the children have a falling out it complicates a working relationship between you and them and potentially their teacher.
Also it certainly changes the dynamics between you and the parents. Even the ones you consider to be fair and understanding will show you a different side of themselves when money is changing hands.

Thanks for the feedback...
I'd always though of wording it... "If you can't get your kids into after-school club then I can do the same hours for the same price on a temporary basis just in the month of September"
But maybe its right that it won't go down well...
I may have missed the boat anyway - because of the uncertainty I think quite a few are taking holiday or more likely unpaid leave for the first week back already.
The big problem is siblings - the multiple drop off/pickup times are causing all sorts of issues with work for quite a few. The rest of us are moaning about the 30 minutes standing around. I just hope it's not a rainy first week!

the multi drop times are not going to be short lived.
Childcare always causes friction between child of parent and you....even best friends. Once you start its also hard to stop eve when parents pick up late don't pay etc.
How could you charge the same amount when your not paying insurance training etc? Your household and car insurance won't cover you when a child has a strop and throws a toy at the tv or dinner on the carpet etc

I would approach anything saying Less Than 3 Hours with caution as the legislation says "for a particular child for two hours or less per day" (Source: www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2008/979/article/3/made )

Anyone know where the 3 hour rule is coming from... is there some other legislation around which has extended the time?

However another exemption in that same legislation could be useful: "a child or children for particular parents, wholly or mainly in the home of the parents" which is how a nanny operates. The care is provided in the home of the child being cared for, rather than in the childcare providers home.

You are right @nannynick it is two hours. The most current guidance regarding registering says
"You cannot register if you look after each child for under 2 hours a day – even if your setting is open for longer than 2 hours.
The only exception to this is if you provide before- or after-school care for less than 2 hours a day in total. In this case you can, if you wish, register on the voluntary part of the Childcare Register"

I am certain it used to be three hours though

It's always been 2 hours. There was talk a couple of years ago of it changing to 3 hours but that change didn't go ahead.

I don't understand how you would offer this with the current rules for lock down (unless you're not in the UK?)

You can only have members of two households meeting inside so i think you'd only be able to offer it to one family anyway.

Good point about social distancing rules. Nannies however seem completely exempt from that so paid childcare in the home of the child being cared for would still be allowed.

@RNBrie

I don't understand how you would offer this with the current rules for lock down (unless you're not in the UK?)

You can only have members of two households meeting inside so i think you'd only be able to offer it to one family anyway.

Presumably this doesn’t count for childminders? Or schools for that matter! Not where where OP would stand doing it sort of as paid work but not officially though...

Isn't the whole point of staggered drop offs that there aren't crowds of parents? If parents are hanging around for 30 minutes to drop off a second child then that defeats the purpose. Has anyone raised this with the school? Our local school have said if you have more than one child then you should drop off and collect them all at the time of the eldest.

@modgepodge it doesn't apply to registered providers, however we have our own guidance.