Please help im new and cant stop crying who do i decide !!

[Sarah Jane Gale]

Hi there im a new chilminder, ive spent months building a relationship with 2 babies due to start 6 april. mon, wed & fri and tue and thurs for the other.

I had another boy who is 2, and i have a 2 yr old and a 10 month old myself. I was granted the full 3 under 5, 3 x 5-8 BUT >>>>>>>>>>>>

Mum of my 2 yr old has swapped her days and hours which means i will have 4 under 5 !!!!!

I need an assistant and i have a 5 bed house with sep playroom, ive brought a triple buggy and have 2 doubles, equipment galore not to mention the toys!

If i get an assistant how do i pay them? someone has told me i have to EMPLOY them but thats means paying them the minimum wage but i only get 3.50hr! so how will that all work, can they be self employed? as they will be caring for different children from different families but im paying her and someone has told me more than 16 weeks of continuous work classes as EMPLOYED ,, please please help ive grown to love ALL OF these babies so much and im running out of time

[Pauline]

Hi and welcome.

First I doubt very much you will get an assistant registered before the start date of April!

Even then you cannot guarantee that Ofsted will allow you more children, they take each situation on an individual basis.

Best thing would be to try to get mum of 2 year old to stick to the original days she booked, tell her that you can't change, if she really wants you then she will make sure she changes.

As regards paying an assistant, if you look through the threads in this section there is loads of information about whether it is best to get them to register as self employed or whether to employ them yourself. There is advice from both sides from minders who are currently working with assistants.

[Sarah Jane Gale]

ive tried and she cant change. i think i am going to godown the self employed route, is it possible to get a decision on numbers based on a assistant working with me before we go through the rigmarol first of finding anf form filling? it seems crazy i have to fing someone get them to complete forms get them crb checks dOne before ofsted will say i can have xy and z more! Because if i employ someone with a under 5 ive got to then get TWO spaces rather than the one i need (hope this all makes sence)

[hello kitty]

Why not apply for a variation? Then there will be no need for an assistant.

[Pauline]

I doubt they would give a variation to someone who is still pre-reg, but it would be worth asking.

Best thing would be to ring Ofsted Sarah, explain what has happened and ask about an assistant and whether they might give you an idea of numbers. But like I say, I doubt very much, with CRB checks etc. that you would have one in place for April.

Are there any minders in your area who would work with you for those days? perhaps someone who has some child free days and would like the work?

[Sarah Jane Gale]

ive applied for variaton but apparently alot of their decision is based on your last grade well im still waiting for my first GRADING insoection, ive had a pre reg but not a grading one.


ive not heard from them yet so planning my plan b just in case

ive got someone who can be an assistant but DO I HAVE TO EMPLOY them? ive been told that i have to, she cant be self employed because she will work for me for more than 16 weeks, even though i could get her to invoice me for the 4 children in my care? and get her to invoice me for nappies, stationary etc?

so can i or not there is a lot of confusion as to whether i can or not.?

[Chatterbox Childcare]

I have the business pack from the IR and have read it front to back and cannot find anything about your business having to be up and running for 16 weeks

If I was you I would start the ball rolling as you cannot have an assistant without the CRB check. Hope it works out well

[Sarah Jane Gale]

no apparently ive been told you cant have the same person working for you for more than 16 weeks continuous without you employing them?

I really need them to be self employed but dont want to get in trouble if they are not allowed, if there is a way around this whole mess i would love to know, and there must be a way surely as ive seen on the threads people having assistants on a self employed basis!

I just dont know what the rules are and what the way are around not employing someone!

[Chatterbox Childcare]

no apparently ive been told you cant have the same person working for you for more than 16 weeks continuous without you employing them?

I really need them to be self employed but dont want to get in trouble if they are not allowed, if there is a way around this whole mess i would love to know, and there must be a way surely as ive seen on the threads people having assistants on a self employed basis!

I just dont know what the rules are and what the way are around not employing someone!

The IR booklet that I have states that unless you pay a person more than £... whatever the tax allowance is for that year, then they do not want to know. Just record it someone for accounts purposes. This year it is £116.06 per week.

I would however, talk to them about NI and holiday pay. You need to get Employers Liability Insurance too which i got from NCMA.

Speak to your Development Officer who may also be able to sign post you in the direct of a government body who specialises in helping people to set up small businesses.

[Sarah Louise]

I currently employ an assistant and have done for the past 3 years and don't find it too much hassle.

I can't categorically say but would think it would be difficult for them to be self employed as you are still the registered person so they can't just look after one family whilst you do the other, they are an employee who counts towards the ratio but you still have overall responsibility for both families, the contract is with you. Not like working with another childminder.

I personally started off with a trainee who was doing an NVQ so therefore didn't have to pay the minimum wage and could keep below the earning threshold for having to do tax and NI. I have 5 children each day now though which make it worthwhile the cost of employing her now she's on full salary.

[balloon]

I have no idea about the assistant part of your question but just wanted to point out to you something that you are maybe not thinking about.

You say you cannot pay an assistant because you're only getting £3.50 an hour but if you need an assistant cos you want 4 under fives you will actually be getting 4 x £3.50 an hour which is £14 an hour, plenty to pay an assistant minimum wage and stil have a good income for yourself.

[angeldelight]

Pauline has given you the information that you need

I just wanted to say good luck whatever you decide to do I hope it works out

Angel xx

[miffy]

It all sounds very complicated to me

Hope you get it sorted

Miffy xx

[Sarah Jane Gale]

hi i need 4 x under 5's cause 2 of the little beats are mine lol so in actual fact im only earning £7 an hour! so like i sadi before im not doing it for the money but i dont want to loose out, the easier option is to ditch one of the kids then i dont need a assistant but i cant decide i truly truly love them all, thats why all of this has been just so difficult,

SARAH LOUISE:- do you have to pay sick and holiday pay if you EMPLOY your assistant?

i cuurently have an ironing lady whom I pay £5.50 and hour just thinking i might make her a assistant/home help/cleaner/ironer then i could EMPLOY her i guess.

Oh god this is so hard someone hand me a winning lottery ticket!!

[Sarah Louise]

You'd have to pay 4 weeks holiday pay per year but you don't have to pay sick pay.
Don't forget though you can have upto 6 children with two people so you could ask for a variation to apply when working with an assistant and have 1 or 2 extra children on those days to make it more financially viable.
Hope this helps.

[Mollymop]

Bless ya Sarah, I hope you manage to get something sorted out x

[Sarah Jane Gale]

thanks moolymop well things are now getting worse they have refused my application on the grounds i didnt auto sign my email request for variance!!! so i emailed it ain attaching a scanned copy of my driving licence - and another week has gone by i ring them and yet again it would appear someone has refused it as you have to actually sign the request then email it!!! oh so whatever and none of them dum witts thought to ring me and tell me! time is now seriously ticking by looks like im gonne have to throw a dice now a!!

[Sarah Jane Gale]

thanks moolymop well things are now getting worse they have refused my application on the grounds i didnt auto sign my email request for variance!!! so i emailed it ain attaching a scanned copy of my driving licence - and another week has gone by i ring them and yet again it would appear someone has refused it as you have to actually sign the request then email it!!! oh so whatever and none of them dum witts thought to ring me and tell me! time is now seriously ticking by looks like im gonne have to throw a dice now a!!