Am I allowed to look after a friends little boy for two mornings if I don't get paid?

[MrsPuddleduck]

Actually I am getting paid. The scenario is this:-

My best friend of 20 years has been hideously let down by her childminder. For some daft reason they didn't have a contract because they know eachother from school . To cut a long story short the CM has some stress at home so phoned by best friend last night and said that as of today she can no longer look after her little boy.

I looked after him this morning and will do again on Wednesday morning. My friend has a temporary work contract which runs out Mid-July so we may just carry on until then.

I am currently registering as a childminder but have only just sent my papers to OFSTED and I don't want to do anything to jeopardise my application. I am particularly worried as I said I will drop him off at nursery school in the afternoons and we are obviously going to have to give some explanation.

It seems daft that I can't do this for my friend though.....(and Godson)

Can you not say your friend is lending you your godson so you can trial all your procedures etc (and help her out at the same time?)

dont worry bout it if you wernt applying to be a cm you would have still helped your friend out

i have my cousin today (she is 5 and on an inset day) i'm not getting paid but have the space to help think its about the same imo

i wouldnt worry about it

you are helping your friend out - we all do it if we can

I think that if you do it at your friends house then you would be classed as a nanny/ mothers help and the childminder thing would be irrelevant. There would be no need for all the ins. etc that you need as a childminder. That may work as a temporary measure to keep everything above board.

I know a childminder who lost her registration and now works at the house of her mindee rather than at her own home.

elk - i though a cm had to work at her house, and a nanny works in the famillies house?

thats one of the main differences, as well as cm being se and a nanny employed

assume your friend only has that one family, as sure the family wouldnt want their house over run with other children?

Ok

The only reason I am worried is incase the school get suspicious and report me or something - not that they have any reason to. Perhaps I am being paraniod.

It would only be a problem if you were being paid or had a "reciprical agreement" eg were recieiving childcare in return for providing childcare. If you are just helping out as a friend and are not recieiving something in return then it shouldn't be a problem.

It might be an idea to tell Ofsted about the arrangement though - as you say if you are doing the school run and people know you're not a registered childminder yet then some people might get the wrong idea. It certainly looks better if you pre-emptively explain the situation and a note can be made on your application file before someone "shops you" for something you're not even doing!