Friend Telling Me She is Going To Be Unregistered Childminder

**helenlc** · 15-07-2009, 10:59 AM

A friend of mine said this morning that she may have found some part time work. She went on to say that a lady at her children's school has to go back to work for financial reasons and that she cannot afford childcare. She has asked friends to have her little one (8 months) but my friend said she would do it so the little one had the consistency of having the same person all the time. The Mum said she was willing to pay £20-25 a day to my friend. Mum and husband have gone away to think about it.

I told her that what she would be doing was illegal and that she wouldnt have any insurances, certificates etc. She didnt take too kindly to this - she is rather an opinionated lady at the best of times!

What annoys me the most is that this friend went on a childminding introduction day with me and decided not to go thru with it due to all the changes she would have to make to her house and her children's lives/routines etc. So she must know that as I am a registered childminder that I have made all those changes and sacrifices.

I told her that the lady would be better off phoning Tax Credits and seeing if she is eligible for any help. She may get some help and then still only have to pay £20-25 top up. But at least she would have registered care and insurances etc.

Ggggrrrrr. I have never come across an unregistered childminder (or at least not that I know of) and was surprised how much it annoyed me her sitting there saying what she was planning.

Ok, rant over!!

Pipsqueak · 15-07-2009, 11:08 AM

Honestly some parents

Anything to think they are saving a few quid, never mind about their most priceless 'possession'. I bet they wouldn't dream of not insuring their car (costs too much to replace without insurance), or their house or contents or even taking out travel insurance

More fool the parent I say.

As for your friend - tell her that you will report her to Ofsted (whether you do or not is a different matter) for childminding illegally and I would point out as well that she is earning illegally as well - she is defrauding the tax man.
Stoopid woman

**chewy sweets** · 15-07-2009, 11:10 AM

That's really annoyed me and i don't even know her!!!
We do so much paper work, training and have to put up with the stress of inspections and she is just taking the p**s! Especially if she decided not to become a childminder. If she went to a breifing session and you've told her it's illegal, she can't even plead Ignorance!
I'd try to approach the parent and tell her that she isn't registered, has no insurance has had no training and has no qualifications.

**grindal** · 15-07-2009, 11:11 AM

I would be annoyed too. When I registered a friend of mine asked if I would look after her little girl. She said, if I pay cash would you give me a cheaper rate as you will not have to declare it and pay tax? People seem to think we register for the fun of it

Pipsqueak · 15-07-2009, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by grindal

People seem to think we register for the fun of it

We don't????

**wendywu** · 15-07-2009, 11:17 AM

I would just say ' you cant do that as you will end up being reported by someone to Ofsted'

**melanieabigail2004** · 15-07-2009, 11:27 AM

If she goes ahead with it I would personally be calling Ofsted as it is a safeguarding children issue. She has not insurance, no formal training and no first aid. Got to question the parents as well as who put their child with an unregistered carer.

Mel

**funtoplay** · 15-07-2009, 12:05 PM

only one thing for it...report her!! do you have choice!!

j

**Curly Quavers** · 15-07-2009, 12:35 PM

if she goes ahead I would report her to Ofsted and the inland revenue.

**helenlc** · 15-07-2009, 01:23 PM

I am hoping I put her off enough this morning!

But if not, and she does go ahead, I will be reporting her to Ofsted and Inland Revenue.

I do not attend the same school as her so do not know the mum involved.

It never ceases to amaze me that people make out their children are the most important things in their life and yet they choose to send them just to the cheapest option - nothing to do with the level of care, safeguarding etc.

**georgie456** · 15-07-2009, 01:29 PM

Originally Posted by wendywu

I would just say ' you cant do that as you will end up being reported by someone to Ofsted'

This is what I would do too - might help to put her off a bit more!

**Mouse** · 15-07-2009, 01:49 PM

I (inadvertently) started a huge argument about this on another forum I post on (nothing to do with childminding).

One woman suggested another ask round at school to see if she could find someone to look after her younger daughter 'for a few quid a week'. Said she was sure some other mum would appreciate the cash. I pointed out that it was illegal etc, and she said 'yes, but who cares'. I said obviously not the parents or they wouldn't chose to send their children to unregistered childcare.

Blimey, did I open a can of worms! I had people shrieking at me (as much as you can on a message board!) that I was accusing them of not caring for their children just because they used unregistered care. Some peole really just don't get it

**Bushpig** · 15-07-2009, 01:53 PM

Oh I'd report her in a shot - I am glad you will too!

. My concern is for the kids, I don't care about the unreg CM/parents getting uptight at all.

They are breaking the law, putting children in danger and and and grrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!

**Playmate** · 15-07-2009, 03:13 PM

Thats all I can say!!!

**Tatjana** · 15-07-2009, 06:28 PM

*SIGH* how irritating.

My cdo told me that half the people on the 2 day training course gave up after that, people just can't be bothered, they think it's a piece of **** then find out how much is involved and give up

xx

**sarah707** · 15-07-2009, 06:33 PM

Originally Posted by Mouse

I (inadvertently) started a huge argument about this on another forum I post on (nothing to do with childminding).

One woman suggested another ask round at school to see if she could find someone to look after her younger daughter 'for a few quid a week'. Said she was sure some other mum would appreciate the cash. I pointed out that it was illegal etc, and she said 'yes, but who cares'. I said obviously not the parents or they wouldn't chose to send their children to unregistered childcare.

Blimey, did I open a can of worms! I had people shrieking at me (as much as you can on a message board!) that I was accusing them of not caring for their children just because they used unregistered care. Some peole really just don't get it

Good job I didn't get involved in that one! It's a subject that really makes me sooooo cross!

**Monkey1** · 15-07-2009, 07:15 PM

Well done for speaking up x

TheBTeam · 15-07-2009, 08:26 PM

I think anyone who is prepared to be an unregistered childminder is not the sort of person i would get to look after my dog, let alone my children, if they are prepared to work against the law, uninsured and evading tax, then i think that says a lot about the type of person they are!

I hope i don't offend anyone on here, but if i have then maybe you could register!

**Nicki L** · 17-07-2009, 09:00 PM

This is certainly something that annoys me. We are registered for the health and wellbeing of the children. We are inspected by ofsted to make sure that the children are safe at all times and thriving. We are first aid trained just in case. We are police checked to make sure that we are not axe murderers!!!! The list is endless and all for a good reason.

Some parents never cease to amaze me.

**sweets** · 17-07-2009, 09:06 PM

there would be an uproar if a nursery went 'underground' and had no qualified staff and avoided Ofsted! wonder if parents would send their children there?