Petition to No.10 regarding Childcare arrangements!

stormbreaker

Not sure if this is the correct board to post on but here goes.

Two people provide mutual childcare for each other. They are employed by the same company to do the same job on a job sharing basis.

Following a complaint to Ofsted and a visit from an Ofsted inspector they are advised that they are commiting an offence and their arrangement should cease forthwith or face prosecution.

Ofsted guidance states 'You must register on the early years register if you provide care at any time for the early years age group and you intend to look after at least one individual child for a period of more than two hours in any day on domestic premise for reward. 'Reward' can be money,gifts or services or providing reciprocal care for another person.

The famillies and their friends have set up an online petition to fight this perverse definition and ask that you support their cause by signing the petition and circulating as wide as possible.

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/reciprocalcc/

cheepskate_2

Am i missing something?

Is this just doing a favour for a friend/workmate? Or is there money involved when childcaring?

If it is just 2 people watching each others children without monies or claming ctc for childcare, then why would there be a problem

Mme.Hibou

cheepskate wrote: »

Am i missing something?

Is this just doing a favour for a friend/workmate? Or is there money involved when childcaring?

If it is just 2 people watching each others children without monies or claming ctc for childcare, then why would there be a problem

The thing is, looking after someone elses child is seen as payment, as you'd be paying for it if they weren't looking after the child for you.

SandC

I've signed it. I don't even have children but this is just medding in people's private arrangements.

cheepskate, the fact that they 'reward' each other with reciprocal arrangements in looking after the other one's child this is seen as reason why they should be registered as early years childminders or whatever it is.

Basically being penalised for doing each other a favour. No money is changing hands.

emlou2009

i've signed it. what a ridiculous thing to happen!

stormbreaker

cheepskate wrote: »

Am i missing something?

Is this just doing a favour for a friend/workmate? Or is there money involved when childcaring?

If it is just 2 people watching each others children without monies or claming ctc for childcare, then why would there be a problem

No you are not missing anything. All parties were happy with the arrangement and there was no exchange of money.

Ofsted however claim they must be registered to look after anyones children.

As a result I understand both of these famillies now have to pay strangers and have had to cut down on their work hours due to costs.

I do have children, however both are in their teens and one has left home However I think it is yet another example of 'the world gone mad' and medaling in peoples private affairs at the cost of the tax payer.

onlyroz

The government are only going to make it *more* difficult to work with children than less difficult. Even people who go to a school to give a talk are going to have to get themselves cleared to work with children.

Perhaps your friends should just get themselves Ofsted registered and then go back to their original arrangement.

Evansangel

Its not that easy to get ofsted registered, you need to have checks done etc.

x

peachyprice

stormbreaker wrote: »

No you are not missing anything. All parties were happy with the arrangement and there was no exchange of money.

Ofsted however claim they must be registered to look after anyones children.

As a result I understand both of these famillies now have to pay strangers and have had to cut down on their work hours due to costs.

I do have children, however both are in their teens and one has left home However I think it is yet another example of 'the world gone mad' and medaling in peoples private affairs at the cost of the tax payer.

Who on earth told Ofsted about their arrangement in the first place?

Ludicrous, absolutley bloody stupid, and they wonder why parents find it easier to give up work and claims all the benefits they possibly can.:mad:

stormbreaker

onlyroz wrote: »

Perhaps your friends should just get themselves Ofsted registered and then go back to their original arrangement.

I expect they will be looking in to this but in the meantime they are hoping that those who write the legislation will see some common sense in these sort of arragements.

gill_81uk

I've signed it also - how ridiculous!