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.?