How much should I pay?

[movingon]

I work shifts and childcare is a bit of a minefield because one week I might need every day and the following week nothing. I have been relying on friends to help out on the mornings when I need to leave early. Now I have found a childminder.She is not an official one but works in the after school club so I know she is CRB checked etc etc. She will do 3 mornings a week whenever I need her to. I have 3 children. Ages 5, 9 & 10. They will be with her for one hour during which she will walk them to school 5 mins away. All seems perfect. However when I mentioned money she said I should suggest something which seems fair. I am stumped. Haven't got a clue what the going rate is but I am living on a student bursary so can't afford to be too generous. But at same time want it to be worth her while or else why would she do it for me! Any suggestions?

i'm just going to pipe in here and say its illegal for an unregistered person to work as a childminder. and the rates depend on the area you live in.

if she is working from your home it's fine but you also need to be paying her tax and NI unless she is self employed

dont think she is a cm as not official and registered

but

if only using her for one hour a day as and when, i would pay £10ph

assume she is coming to your house, so not a problem not being a cm ( and less than 2hrs a day) and then staying there till time to go to school

seems a perfect solution to me

As it is under 2 hours, no registration requirement. That assumes she isnt having other children later in the day, as the 2 hour limit is a per day limit, not a per family or per child.
If she isnt fussed about payment, then offer £10 per occasion and see what she says.

nannynick, your right about the under 2 hours bit, but i thought the children had to be over the age of 8, the younget child is 5

Do you want me to look it up?
Age of child won't make a difference, as its care provided for under 2 hours.

them there fightin' talk nick! lol

The easiest to read reference to the 2-hour rule is in: The Childcare (Exemptions from Registration) Order 2008 see 3(1)b.

In my ofsted pack I have here it say...

You dont need to be registered if you are working under 2 hours for a family for a reward.
This is for the one family so she can still have your children for upto 2 hours in the morning then another family up to 2 hours the same day!!!
I thought it was just 2 hours a day so there you go!
I agree £10ph sounds good

That's an interesting loophole.
I expect that will be fixed at some point, if it hasn't already.

Thank-you. Was thinking around that mark so you have reassured me no end. Such a releif not to feel I am burdoning my friends anymore!