Babysitting / childminding co-operative - are there legal issues?

[Babe]

I'm part of a group of friends who have set up a scheme where we will use tokens instead of money for childminding or babysitting.

However, someone asked whether we need insurance if we're looking after someone's child. Heaven forbid anything should go wrong, but could we get sued if someone's child was harmed whilst in our house?

I'd really appreciate anyone's experience.

If you are babysitting in the parent's own home or only caring for over 8's or only caring for less than 2 hours a day or only caring between the hours of 6pm and 2am then there are no regulations.

If you are caring for the children in your own home, during the day for more than 2 hours and they are under 8 you need to be registered as a childminder with OFSTED as the tokens will be classed as a reciprocal agreement or reward.

You can get sued for almost anything. And legally speaking, if you care for children for more than two hours in your own home you need to register as a childminder even if you are receiving a reward in kind rather than cash (this excludes "babysitting" which is defined as between 6pm and 2am, and for which you don't need to be registered).

Took me too long to type that...

Many thanks to you both - that's helpful - we'll have to make sure that we put a 2 hour max on daytime minding.

More than 2 hours is OK as long as the carer only cares for another child on less than 8 times a year (I think its 8 anyway, you need to check)

Thanks IoS - is there a website that has this info?

Yes, it's on the OFSTED website somewhere.