legal reasons why you cannot leave a child with non relative regularly

[questionplease]

i remember reading that if you regularly leave a child with a non relative who is not a childminder or nanny, or nursery school, it is against the law, and you may be prosecuted. can someone clarify this for me please.

im a regular who has namechanged as i promised a friend in rl i would ask mnetters help, and if she reads this, then i will have outed myself.
tia

Diff between illegal childminding and playdates etc is money. You can have any arrangments you like if you aren't paying for it (this can include giving wine, favours etc).
I'm sure there is little interest though in informal agreements between friends involving one child. There used to be horrible abuses of illegal childminding, so the situation had to be regulated, which was a good thing.

"You can have any arrangments you like if you aren't paying for it"

But even things like reciporal baby sitting is considered payment.