How much to pay parents for looking after kids

Spendless

Are you wanting to cover their costs of food and petrol in which case can you work out roughly how much they will spend? Or are you looking to give something similar to how much holiday clubs would charge you?

For my 11yo so far, the first week she did sports camp which was £10 per day or £40 for 5 days. 2nd week she did dance camp which was £65 for the week, next week she does drama school which is £100 for the week. Only the dance camp covered my working hours of 9-5,sports camp which was at her primary school she could walk to and from and next week, I'm able to drop her off but have a variety of people picking her up when she finishes at 3pm.

Alchemilla

I pay mine the going childcare rate.
My thinking is if they ever can't do it then it won't be a financial shock.

Mrs_Soup

My parents have been looking after my children for three days a week for a couple of years now. In school time that means taking the eldest to school and picking him up and the younger one has gone through needing looking after full time for those three days - into pre school for increasing amounts of time and in September will start school. They have their tea there on those three days.
We settled on £60 a week at the outset to cover food, petrol etc. My mum also occasionally buys say a pack of socks for them when needed. This is way below the going rate in our area where nursery is about £60 a day and childminder about £5 an hour.
As the younger one goes to school in september we will be reducing the current £250 month down to about £50 so they are not out of pocket on food for them.
If its just for the holidays then I would offer something to cover extra food, trips etc so they can take them out and not feel stuck at home. Sounds like they are willing to accept money so I would definitely give them something.

trailingspouse

Sorry if I'm putting a spanner in the works unnecessarily here, but I was under the impression that if someone was paid for childcare they had to register as a childminder? I always thought it was a daft idea where grandparents were concerned, so maybe this isn't the case any more? Possibly OK to just cover their expenses, but paying anything above that might mean they should be registered. It might be worth checking with your Local Authority, just so you know where you stand.

moomoomama27

trailingspouse wrote: »

Sorry if I'm putting a spanner in the works unnecessarily here, but I was under the impression that if someone was paid for childcare they had to register as a childminder? I always thought it was a daft idea where grandparents were concerned, so maybe this isn't the case any more? Possibly OK to just cover their expenses, but paying anything above that might mean they should be registered. It might be worth checking with your Local Authority, just so you know where you stand.

I was thinking the same thing! I'm not sure if the rules have changed but it always used to be you couldn't pay anyone childcare without them being registered, but have no idea if it means family too?

I wouldn't feel right accepting money to look after family. Could you perhaps offer passes to cinemas or zoos, or perhaps pay for day trip entrance fees and get a bit if food shopping in?

pollypenny

terra_ferma wrote: »

It must have been rather expensive to take them to the USA to eat....
I think there's something wrong with your keyboard (not taking the mikey, couldn't make sense of your post until I realised that a couple of r's have become t's).

Indeed, fat fingers. We are in the USA and I really wish they were nearer.

Spendless

moomoomama27 wrote: »

I was thinking the same thing! I'm not sure if the rules have changed but it always used to be you couldn't pay anyone childcare without them being registered, but have no idea if it means family too?

I wouldn't feel right accepting money to look after family. Could you perhaps offer passes to cinemas or zoos, or perhaps pay for day trip entrance fees and get a bit if food shopping in?

You can't claim for childcare costs (eg from tax credits or using childcare vouchers) if the Grandparents are providing childcare, unless they are registered and looking after at least one other non-related child. It's come up before, but it's a pain to find info on-line- I remember googling it!

Mrs_Soup

If all the children are over 8 as in this case there is no requirement to be registered.
In my case I would argue that I am covering their out of pocket costs which I believe to be permitted. I am also allowed to give my retired parents gifts including money if I wish. But none of this applies to the OP anyway.

happycomper22

think the registering as a childminder thing was only if you wanted to claim the cost back through tax credits

longforgotten

Yes, I would strongly suggest the money you give is related to re-imbursing family for looking after your children. Once you start talking paying for 'childcare' the powers that be may consider you are paying them a wage...............could be taxable, effect their benefits receivable etc etc