Cousin minding child : need to register as CM?

[Jellybean2010]

My cousin is willing to mind our child part time when I go back to work, my husband will mind her the rest of the time. We are thinking of 3 days a week with the cousin, possibly 1 or 2 days in our flat and 1 or 2 days in her house. She would be paid.

I've two questions I'd really appreciate your thoughts on.

My first question is: would my cousin be classed as a nanny or a childminder, i.e. does she need to register with ofsted or not? The ofsted rules seem to say she doesn't need to register if she "looks after the child wholly or mainly in the childs own home." What does that mean? If she does 2 days at our flat and 1 day in her house, does that mean she doesn't have to register?

My second question is: what exactly is involved with registering? I get the impression she would need to do a whole series of initial forms and so on and then would need to have formal procedures and plans in place because of regular inspections. To us, this seems excessive red-tape for someone who is only minding one-child for only a couple of days a week. I'd rather her time was spent with my child than with paperwork!!! So, it would be good to know exactly what the extra workload is when you become registered.

Thanks very much.

What is the person in relation to your child? An aunt/uncle does not need to register.

2 days at yours and 1 at their home would breach in my view. To be a nanny, they need to work mostly at your home - the occasions where they are not at your home would be things like outings, up to 2 hours at the carers home.

What is the person in relation to your child? An aunt/uncle does not need to register.

2 days at yours and 1 at their home would breach in my view. To be a nanny, they need to work mostly at your home - the occasions where they are not at your home would be things like outings, up to 2 hours at the carers home.

Thanks Nannynick, the relation is a cousin.

Do you know anything about the workload involved in becoming and maintaining registration?

You said "My Cousin", so can't be your child's cousin as well can they?

There are many message threads regarding registering as a childminder and ongoing childminder related things on this board, so scroll through and have a read. It would not be viable in my view though just to care for one child.

So consider having them work as your nanny instead. You would be their employer and they work at your home. No registration requirements then, unless you need to use Childcare Vouchers of Childcare element of WTC.

that would make the cousin the child's second cousin wouldn't it?

Myn cousin's daughter is my second cousin.

Sorry about the confusion Nannynick; She is my cousin and so my daughter's second cousin....

I've found out some stuff on what's involved in being a registered CM, like you say it seems excessive to just mind one child part-time....

If we were to go down the nanny route with her, and wanted to use childcare vouchers, then she would still need to be registered. Are the registration requirements and workload the same for a nanny in your home vs a childminder in theirs? Some things would be easier: no need for liability insurance for her home, also I guess only my cousin would need a CRB check, her other family members wouldn't. But what about stuff like the early years foundation stage and regular ofsted inspections? It would seem strange to me to have ofsted come to my home to inspect my part-time nanny, how can they tell if the child's development, etc is down to the nanny or the parents?

Nanny registration involves nannying having:
First Aid Training
Childcare training of some kind that Ofsted recognises - there are training providers like mnt who do short courses but they can be expensive.
Nanny Libility insurance

Ofsted do inspect a small percentage, it's a quick check of the nannies paperwork and some questions of child protection.

Registered nannies do not need to do EYFS.

Full details are in Home Childcarers guide to registration document on Ofsted's website. Can't do a link, as I'm in mobile mode at Legoland.