No funded hours for registered childminders who look after a related child?

[gemloving]

I spoke to my childminder and she's "losing" the twins (her nieces) who she looked after every Friday because they'll get free funding from the age 3.

I get that some people might want to abuse the system but generally, how unfair is this?

I've now written to my local MP and Vicky Ford who is the under Secretary of State for children & families.

Has anyone else experienced this? Can the law be changed?

Yes same here, I've looked after my niece and nephew since 10 months, all above board, I follow eyfs for them, in laws pay my going rate etc. However at just over three both have to leave me as the 30 hours is just too much to lose for them. It's such a shame and we're all so disappointed.

It is unfair, if it were a nursery owners and staff could get funding in the same setting. Childminders are always overlooked....take covid going forward everyone can carry on go to work etc if they want but a childminder can't work if they have covid in the house even if they can totally isolate the positive or symptomatic they can't even walk through the house to access a self contained garden room

It's just to stop people abusing the system.

It's easy to stop people abusing the system without the system abusing childminders by denying funding that everyone else is entitled to.

@underneaththeash but my childminder does not abuse the system. It's easy to put those controls in place.

My child has had the same childminder since he was 12 months, being forced to change setting because they are related would be so upsetting for everyone including the child. A lot of children find it quite difficult settling into new settings.

@underneaththeash

It's just to stop people abusing the system.

What abuse could happen? Childcare is needed if its been given for 2 plus years and parents are working which they must prove to get 30 hours. Childminders are audited by funding just like other settings. It's just a policy made by people who don't know how regulated childminders are and can't even recognise a birthday party I guess becouse nanny arranged it before they went to Eaton

Childminders are always getting shafted. One of the reasons I'm leaving the profession. I'll take my 12 years experience and go where I am appreciated.

@Glenthebattleostrich can I just say that as a mum, I don't think I have ever appreciated any professional more than my childminders.

They love my babies, they give so much, they listen to all my concerns, update me, help me turn them into good little humans.

You are appreciated, maybe not by the government but by the parents

@gemloving thanks for that! I do feel that my job is nurturing and supporting the whole family, not just looking after the children.

I wish the government would appreciate how much we put into the kiddos. My first child still pops in to visit us 3 years after she stopped being registered with me!

How would they know they are a related child though? You don't have to declare that on any paperwork surely??