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Paid childcare

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

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Original poster

Looking after a friend's child

29 replies

jodie84 · 21/11/2007 22:26

A mate of mine is going back to work and I'm going to look after her son. Someone at my daughter's school told me I have to register with the council even if it's a firends child. Is this true??

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

seekingsanity · 21/11/2007 22:37

Hi Jodie,
My understanding is you can watch anyone's child in their own home for payment cos that's babysitting. To watch someone's child in your own home you have to be either a registered childminder or a relative. I assume you are being paid? So yeah if you are going to be in your own home shes right except its the care commision you register with not the council - sorry

bonkerz · 21/11/2007 22:39

if the child is being cared for in your home for more than 2 hours a day then you have to be registered as a childminder.

Original poster

jodie84 · 21/11/2007 22:48

That seems ridiculous since I'm not running a business just helping a friend!

OP posts:

nannynick · 21/11/2007 22:48

Yes, if you care for the child at your home for 2 hours+ a day, then you need to register.

Childcare Act 2006

If you care for the child, at the child's home, then you would be a nanny and currently you don't have to register (though a voluntary registration scheme does exist, so parents can use childcare vouchers/tax credits, by having a Registered Nanny/Home Childcarer)

nannynick · 21/11/2007 22:49

You can provide care for 5 days in any year, without needing to register.

None of us like legislation, but it is there to protect children.

Original poster

jodie84 · 21/11/2007 22:53

Is there any way they check up on you?

OP posts:

nannynick · 21/11/2007 22:53

While you may feel you are helping a friend out, the law feels that you are very unlikely to be helping someone out on a regular basis without there being some kind of benefit to you - even if that is a bunch of flowers or a box of chocolates every now and then. The law states that it is providing care for Reward, which includes Money, but also includes anything else which is of benefit to you.

The work around currently is that you care for the child, at the child's own home. Then you would be an employee of the parent technically, but an employee who has agreed to work for nothing.

nannynick · 21/11/2007 22:56

Yes, if you are seen out and about by people, they can report you to the regulator, who will then carry out an investigation - which could result in you getting a large fine, possibly imprisonment. Though generally the regulator will try to get you to comply with the law, before taking that level of action.

Your household insurance policy may also be invalid, as your insurer may consider that you are providing a service from your home.
Your car insurance may also be invalid, as it may not cover you to transport a child who is not your own - look carefully at your policy.

smartiejake · 21/11/2007 23:03

Oh how utterly ridiculous. The world's gone mad! Why can't we just help out friends with out all this stupid red tape! What next- ofsted for the next door neighbours 16 year daughter who does a bit of baby sitting!

nannynick · 21/11/2007 23:07

Care between 6pm and 2am is unregulated.

But Babysitting takes place at the Child's Own Home.

It is the location at which the childcare takes place, which makes the difference.

Original poster

jodie84 · 21/11/2007 23:07

I don't have any enemies - I can't imagine anyone would be nasty enough to grass me up!

OP posts:

nannynick · 21/11/2007 23:09

Regulation of childcare happened quite a while ago now. The Children Act 1989 is often cited as being one of the major documents regarding childcare legislation in England.

bonkerz · 22/11/2007 09:55

jodie you would be surprised who would grass! I have recently given up childminding and have started having my friends 2 children after school 2 days a week for less than an hour. I was grassed up by someone unkjnown as i too have no enemies! OFSTED apparently sat outside my house on 3 occassions and watched to be certain the children only stayed a short time! The 2 kids do ONLY stay for 45 minutes both nights so i wasnt in trouble but it does happen. There are alot of childminders for a start who would probably report you veen if they didnt know oyu!

Hulababy · 22/11/2007 09:59

Are you being paid? I think the only problem is if you are being paid and it is for more than 3 hours a day in your own home.

I look after a friend's DD after school, once a week for about 2 hours. I don't get paid for it. It is in my own home. As far as I am aware this is perfectly fine.

SweetSnowflake · 22/11/2007 13:01

frannikin · 22/11/2007 17:22

Hulababy - you can do it for up to 2 hours, after that you need to be registered. Unless it's a friend of your children and it counts as a regular play-date. And OFSTED think that there must be some kind of reward/benefit for you (this includes mutual agreements to babysit) because they don't believe people can be altruistic.

So, no, it's not perfectly fine, and you would be in serious trouble if someone did report you.

CranberryMartini · 22/11/2007 17:33

It wouldn't be fair if you could do it without being registered while the rest of us have to go through courses and have our house inspected. IMO it belittles the work of registered childminders and is taking the piss.

TellusMater · 22/11/2007 17:38

Really? Doing it to help out a friend - for free - is taking the piss?

CranberryMartini · 22/11/2007 17:44

Yes. It's not fair.

TellusMater · 22/11/2007 17:44

I don't get it.

TellusMater · 22/11/2007 17:45

DO you fele the same about family members doing it?

Hulababy · 22/11/2007 19:07

I personally find it madness that friends can't help each other out with looking after children. If I am doing a friend a favour it should be between us and that's it. Even if their is a mutual benefit - i.e. I'll do it one day if you do it another, etc. Ridiculous to think that you'd need to be registered to do that surely. I bet there are thousands of people doing similar all over the country. How on earth do they expect to govern and regulate that.

However I would be exempt. The friend's child I look after is also my daughter's friend. Phew I am assuming I can call that friend's 2yo sister also a frind of DDs when I look after her for her mum next month, for free, but at my house - for a dull day.

Original poster

jodie84 · 22/11/2007 21:54

I'm having him for about 5 hours every morning, and my mate is paying me (but not much) and she will be looking after my girls sometimes in return.

OP posts:

MaureenMLovesmincepies · 22/11/2007 22:06

I understand your frustation Jodie & others, really I do, but from a childminders point of view, we have been through weeks & months of training and have to do tons and tons of paper work every week to look after other peoples children. We get it in the neck from Ofsted time and time again, because we haven't displayed our no smoking sign or haven't provided enough towels in the bathroom or haven't filled in a diary to their standards, so we do get a little bit hacked off when people don't go through the correct channels.

The rules are there to protect the children and you. What if, god forbid anything happened to that child whilst in your care? Quite certainly it will be the end of a beautiful friendship, not to mention you getting into serious trouble for doing it.

Its not just about you not getting caught, its about the protection of you, the child and its parents.

5 hours a day for reward, no matter what it is, is illegal.

CranberryMartini · 23/11/2007 06:56

Thanks Mo we need to stick together on this.

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