Registering to become a childminder

[michymama]

Hello. My sister is considering going back to work after taking a break. She has a 10 month old and I would be looking after him. Yesterday she suggested I register as a child minder so she can pay me and get help through her tax credits (she can't really afford to pay me otherwise).
What would I need to do ? Can u become a registered child minder just for one child ?
If I am a carer for my own child will it affect my carers allowance ??
Thanks for any help !!!

I'm on a course just now to become a childminder and last week we were told that if you were planning on only looking after relatives children that you wouldn't get registered as there is no need to be registered to look after relatives kids.
Sorry not sure about the carers allowance.
Also i'm in Scotland so don't know if it is diferent where you are.

Your sister is right you would have to register for her to be able to claim TC.

But I think you would also need to be prepared to take on other children....otherwise it is just a 'devise' to claim money from the Gov (iyswim)

I am sorry I don't know about carers allowance

Could you care for her baby at her house and become a nanny (less paperwork) - you can register with ofsted so she can pay you with childcare vouchers (although i am not sure about tax credits???)

The nanny option sounds better for you as you have to also consider how many childminders there are in your area.
But then as a relative how can you be a nanny when you are the auntie .
Why can't your sister just go to an already registered childminder?

thanks for the replies. I couldn't go to sisters house as she lives about 20 mins away and I need to be home for my kids to get them from school and taxi them round !!
She'd rather I look after my nephew (me too) than send him to someone she doesn't know.

Bear in mind all of the legislation you have to follow, paperwork you have to do, training you have to go on......... It's not just about looking after children in your own home any more. You would have to do all of the above, even for a relative's child. Not a decision to be taken lightly IMO - and from experience

I would phone the Scottish childminding asociation -Scotland
or www.ncma.org.uk/MainWebSite/Homepageb51465f4.aspx?Map=163EB4336F1F8E141AF4FDF3DCD0FDA9 NCMA- England and wales]] and get some advice on costs etc.

NCMA- England and wales

Ripeberry, I don't understand your reply - what does it matter how many other childminders are in the area?

Michymama, I registered as a childminder primarily in order to look after my nephew, although I have subsequently taken on other children as well.

My sister asked me to register after finding her original childminder asleep on the sofa and her son being looked after by cm's eight year old daughter.

Hang on... no one seems to be mentioning issues regarding it being care of a relative.
As I read it michymama's sister is asking her to care for michymama's nephew or niece.

Please can read page 19 of WTC2 section titled: Childcare Provided By A Relative.
Childcare Element of Working Tax Credit cannot be used for childcare provided by a relative, unless that relative is a Registered Childminder who is ALSO looking after other children.

So to answer michymama's question:
Can u become a registered child minder just for one child ?

The answer is NO, if that one child is a relative.

Because in the Childcare Act 2006 it says,

18 (4) ?Childcare? does not include care provided for a child by? (c) a relative of the child;

The Childcare Act 2006 also defines what is considered to be a relative,
18 (8) (c) ?relative?, in relation to a child, means a grandparent, aunt, uncle,
brother or sister, whether of the full blood or half blood or by marriage or civil partnership.

Link to Childcare Act 2006 (PDF)

Therefore (In England) to care for a relative, you don't need to register as a childminder and you can't be paid/part-paid via Childcare element of Working Tax Credit.

michymama - Is your Mumsnet profile accurate? It says you live in Sicily. If you do indeed still live there... then alas I doubt anyone on this board knows the taxation rules or childcare legislation in Sicily.

nannynick - I've not updated my profile yet (although will do now, had forgotten all about it !!). I did live in Sicily but now live in Merseyside. In Sicily it would be simple - there are no rules and no financial help !!
Thanks for the link, looks like I'll be looking after my nephew for free !!

So glad you aren't living in Sicily... otherwise all those links I put would have been a waste. Glad they are now useful