Long way off but should I tell Ofsted I'm caring for my nephew/niece but not as a CM?

[AskABusyPerson]

My sister and I are both expecting, she in Feb, me in March! She's hoping to go back to work in Sept 08 part-time and I have already offered, as a family member, to do some of the care for her child for no money (me and our Mum sharing the care between us).

Do you think this is too risky with me being a registered childminder? I only do (and want to do) ad-hoc childminding so unlikely to be an issue with numbers (I know I'd have to take the nephew/niece into account in numbers even though not a mindee) but didn't know what Ofsted would make of it....

It's none of their business if you are within numbers so no, you don't need to tell them!

I thought that but just thought I'd ask! Thanks.

PS Hear congrats are in order for you too - I feel like I've got ages to go (am 23 weeks now) and then my sister says 'Oooh, only 14 weeks to go' (she's 26 weeks) and I start panicking! (have already got dd aged 5 but v bad pregnancy and labour experience still rears it's ugly head when I think of the end of this 40 weeks!!)

I'm only 8+4 (yeah, that early I'm still adding the days!! ). I just want my next scan to show all is ok as was convinced we'd lost it a few weeks ago! Nervous about telling parents but I will do it as soon as I have the all clear from the scan!

I think you helped me on the other thread? I was under a different name but can't be bothered to hide anymore!!

Hope the rest of your pregnancy goes well and I'm sure the birth will be fine. I had horrible labour with ds, he was distressed, I was in a panic as the midwifes were - they left me in a room and forgot about me for 2 hours!! So I'm having this one at home as long as no complications etc!

Yes, and also re a sickness/exclusion policy and you were hellybelly?!

Good luck for the rest of your pregnancy too - like you I'm opting for a home birth, have been researching inflatable pools which can then be used as super paddling pools!

Oh.....you remember me from back then I miss being HellyBelly but I'm used to Looneytune now and the staff room lot TOLD ME I have to keep that name!

Send me a link sometime about the pool as I'm not researching that JUST YET, just another 4 weeks and I'll start to get properly excited I think!

Thanks for your help on my other thread and the policy way back!

Night x

Agree with Looney, no need to inform Ofsted. Sign them in to register as per a minded child, so should Ofsted make a visit, they can see you have taken your relative into account for ratio purposes.

Thanks nn, do you mean I should put my nephew/neice in attendance book as if was a regular mindee? I;m guessing that is what your saying but I have pregnancy brain and very little is getting through!!

LT no problem, I'm so glad I found mumsnet, it's such a source of help and advice!

Yep - use the attendance book - do all the paperwork, sign contracts, permission forms etc just put no fee in the contract

I would be careful to put your A/L sickness & stuff in, & also what happens if your baby or her baby is ill (just so it is in black & white and set out to start with iyswim)

Just because she isn't paying doesn't mean she can bring her baby if s/he is poorly

Thank you Katymac. Think my sister would be happy with that too, makes it more offical but with no ££!

PS She is the one who at first thought of being my assistant (thank you again for your help with that) but has decided to go back to office job - better the devil you know!