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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

Questions about someone childminding unregistered. . .

125 replies

bestfriendswithbenefits · 07/02/2009 20:28

I know someone who looks after their neice for two whole days a week. As a blood relative, I'm assuming this is legal? She's recently started looking after another little girl ( aged 2 ) for someone else, but is, as far as I'm aware, not registered. She's getting paid to mind them both. How can I find out if she's registered? And if she's not, should I do anything about it? Who do I report it to? Am I just being a sticky beak? I know she is aware of childminding regulations, so it's not just a mistake on her part. thanks.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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SlightlyMadScotland · 07/02/2009 20:35

Is it actually illegal to look after another child and get paid (thinking of babysitters here)?

It would be illegal to advertise yourself as a childminder I suspect without being registered...but if she is not calling herself a childminder is ita probelm

iMum · 07/02/2009 20:36

It is fine as she is family.

littleducks · 07/02/2009 20:37

is she doing this from her own home?

iMum · 07/02/2009 20:37

although it is illegal to look after someone elses child (not family) for any kind of reward.

SlightlyMadScotland · 07/02/2009 20:40

OK, this appears to be the answer to your question:

"A childminder is defined as a person, who looks after one or more children under the age of eight years of age, to whom they are not related, on domestic premises for reward, and for a total of more than two hours in any day and is registered. Those who are not registered are illegal childcarers who are breaking the law."

It is not illegal to look asfter her niece, but it is for her to look after the other child for payment (assuming it is more than 2hrs per day).

from here

Original poster

bestfriendswithbenefits · 07/02/2009 20:46

Thanks. So, do you think I should mind my own business, or do something about it? I'm not asking people to tell me what to do, more trying to find out what the general concensus is.

OP posts:

Disenchanted3 · 07/02/2009 20:47

Mind your own.

queenofbeas · 07/02/2009 20:55

Why would you report it? As long as the children are well looked after and all parties are happy then it is really no ones business apart from those invloves, ofsted and the tax man.

HSMM · 07/02/2009 21:01

I would report it. It is illegal and she is not insured. Do the parents of the other child know? Has she been CRB checked? Is she putting registered childminders out of work?

nannynick · 07/02/2009 21:07

What country are you in? There are various regulators of Childminders, so knowing your country helps to point you in the right direction.

Caring for the unrelated child is probably against the rules, certainly is in England. The rules are designed to protect children, so yes you should report it and let the regulator investigate.

Original poster

bestfriendswithbenefits · 08/02/2009 07:46

Thanks for your replies. She's in the UK. Who would I report it to?

OP posts:

choosyfloosy · 08/02/2009 07:54

I would absolutely not report this, sorry, not unless I had some major concern about the children. But it's definitely against the rules.

Hassled · 08/02/2009 08:01

The only major concern I would have is re insurance - if she is illegally childminding the other girl, and there's an accident and the parents want to sue if they felt it was her fault,she would have no insurance cover. Registered childminders have liability insurance. Maybe pointing that out to your friend will be enough?

nannynick · 08/02/2009 11:02

There are separate regulators for England, Wales, Scotland etc.
I'll list those major ones:
England - Ofsted - 08456 014772
Wales - CSSIW - 01443 848450 (head office), or contact a local office.
Scotland - Care Commission - 0845 603 0890 (local office) or 01382 207100 (head office)

The regulators initially are only likely to encourage them to register... so it is worthwhile checking that your friend is aware that there are rules in place and encourage her to register.

JenniPenni · 08/02/2009 15:04

I would encourage her to register. She is working illegally.

Sam100 · 08/02/2009 15:25

Does it not depend on where she is looking after the child? If in her own home then she would be a childminder and should register but if in the other person's home then is it not like a nanny or nanny share. If so then aren't the rules different? Our nanny is qualified but not Ofsted registered - she looks after our kids in our home - so as far as I am aware does not need to register as a childminder. Is this right?

nannynick · 08/02/2009 15:35

It does depend on the location at which care is provided... if they were caring for the non-relative in that child's home, then they would be classed as a nanny, not a childminder.

You are right, your nanny does not need to be registered... at present. They can register with Ofsted as an option though... more and more nannies are now becoming registered (so parents can use Childcare Vouchers).

tankie · 08/02/2009 15:37

I would mind your own business.

nannynick · 08/02/2009 16:03

Why would mind you own business? Why should law abiding childcare providers have to jump through the various hoops... when others don't? Shouldn't all children be protected, not just some?

tankie · 08/02/2009 16:08

I think people are too desperate to inform on others. If the children are well cared for and their parents are happy, then why get involved?

Booh · 08/02/2009 16:08

This irritates me so much, people not reporting unregistered childcares. How would they feel if something did happen to that child? And I wonder if the parents have thought about it.......what would happen if the child had a serious accident and there was no insurance to help with the long term care of an injured child.

tankie · 08/02/2009 16:10

And all this about jumping through hoops and insurance - nannies and au pairs don't, so are the children they look after at risk?

coolj · 08/02/2009 16:13

As a childminder it totally me off to know that there are unregistered childminders out there taking our business, not looking after children properly and giving Registered Childminders a bad name. We have to go on various courses throughout the year to ensure that we deliver the EYFS framework set out by Ofsted to ensure that we are suitable to work with children, our premises are safe and risk assessed regularly, children are safe, learning through play and that we are insured to mention a few rules.

If everyone worked illegally, whats to stop people selling takeaways etc from home. Same principle.

If they want to look after children for reward they must get bloody registered like all of us.

REPORT NOW

queenofbeas · 08/02/2009 16:30

Just because someone is registered does not mean the care is better that they are providing and childminders are the first to moan about all the pointless courses they have to do. I can understand it takes away from CM's business but apart from that I can't see the difference. We seem to live in a snitch culture.

nannynick · 08/02/2009 16:33

Nannies and au-pairs (who are now no different to nannies, now that the immigration rules have changed) are becoming more regulated. We will be seeing that getting tougher over the next few years I feel.
To answer your question Tankie... yes, the children are at an increased level of risk when they are being cared for by someone who may have no childcare or first aid training, no insurance, unknown criminal record, etc. While many un-registered nannies are great... some are not. At present it is up to parents who employ a nanny to decide for themselves if the person they employ is suitable or not... some people are good at making that judgement, but some may need additional help.

Childminders have been regulated for some 50 years now - I have a history document about childminding, could look up the date... think it may have been as early as 1948.

Laws in this country exist, if we like them or not. If we all ignored the laws of the land, then what would life be like?

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