Childminding between friends

Introduction

The law requires people to register with Ofsted as childminders when they provide care for children under the age of eight, in a home that is not the child or children’s own, for more than two hours a day for reward.

The law says that people who care for a child or children of friends do not need to register as childminders if the childcare is not in exchange for payment.

Payment is defined as a payment of money or money’s worth. If your friend pays you for caring for their child or children, you must register as a childminder. This is if one of the children is under eight, the care is for more than two hours a day in your own home, or another home that is not your friend’s home.

Money or money’s worth – what does this mean?

If your friend pays you in cash, cheques or vouchers, for example for use in a supermarket or department store, this is counted as payment. It does not matter if this is a regular payment, a one-off payment, or full or part payment for the total amount you are charging. If you receive any such payment you need to register as a childminder.

Money’s worth means a payment towards the costs involved in the childcare such as a contribution to heating and lighting, or paying for food or repairs to the place where the childminding happens. If your friend pays you for this type of thing then you need to register as a childminder.

If your friend buys you an occasional gift such as a box of chocolates, a bunch of flowers, or a bottle of wine; this does not count as payment. If this is all you receive in return for providing childcare for your friend’s children, you do not need to register.

You do not need to register if your friend gives you goods or services in exchange for childcare. Goods and services are things like repairing your friend’s washing machine or car; or buying a bag of groceries.

However, if you provide childminding for someone who is not your friend and they offer goods and services in return for childminding, this is counted as reward and you must register.

Friends

The law does not give any definition of ‘friend’ and Ofsted will accept its normal meaning as people who hold each other with mutual affection and regard.

Examples of childcare arrangements between friends

Example one

If you look after your friend’s children and, in return, your friend looks after your children and no cash exchanges hands, you do not need to register as a childminder, as this counts as reciprocal care between friends where no goods and services and no money or money’s worth exchanges hands.

Example two

You care for two of your friend’s children and she gives you a gift of £100. You must register as a childminder as cash has exchanged hands.

Example three

You care for a friend’s child and in return she gives you £20 a month to help with food and electricity. You must register as a childminder as cash has exchanged hands.

Example four

You provide care for a friend’s child and in return receive grocery vouchers for a local supermarket. You must register as a childminder as you have been paid with vouchers and these count as money’s worth.

Example five

You care for two of your friend’s children and in return your friend does the gardening for you. You do not need to register as a childminder as this counts as goods and services and no money or money’s worth exchanges hands.

However, if you provided childminding for someone who is not a friend and they do your gardening for you then you must register as a childminder, as this counts as reward.

Investigating unregistered care

Sometimes people complain to Ofsted about childcare they believe should be registered. Ofsted investigate all complaints to make sure that children are safe and not at risk and not being cared for in circumstances where registration is required.

If they find the childcare is between friends, without any payment being made, then Ofsted ask all the friends involved in the arrangement to confirm this and will take no further action.

If there is payment involved, or the arrangement is not between friends and is for reward, Ofsted will take action to ensure the childcare becomes registered or ceases. If they have concerns about a potential risk of harm to a child they will contact the local authority safeguarding team.

Ofsted voluntary register

If you don’t need to register with Ofsted, you may still choose to do so by joining the voluntary part of the Childcare Register. Contact Ofsted for more information.

If you are still not sure if you need to register as a childminder and need more information contact Ofsted on 0300 123 1231 or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk.