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I provide childcare for my relative/friend's children

Quick links Grandparents Association - Information for grandparents who provide childcare for their grandchildren  Become a childcare provider - How to get registered as a childcare provider

Frequently asked questions  

I have offered to look after my friend’s children while she is at work. Do I need to be registered with Ofsted?

This will depend on the arrangement you make and the ages of her children. You will not need to be registered if:

• Her children are all aged eight or over;
• Any of her children are aged under eight, but you will be looking after them in their own home;
• You will be looking after them in your home, but will not be receiving payment from her of any kind for the childcare; or
• You will only be looking after them for less than two hours per day.

You are required by law to be registered and inspected by Ofsted in England or CSSIW in Wales if:

• you intend to regularly look after her child in your home; and 
• her child is aged under eight; and
• the care is for more than two hours per day; and
• you will be receiving payment from her for it.

If her children are all aged eight or over, although there is no requirement to register, there is a voluntary part of the Ofsted Register that you may want to join if you live in England. Financial help with childcare costs is available for eligible parents who use registered childcare. Further information about registration is available on www.ofsted.gov.uk. Your local branch of the National Childminding Association will be able to give you details of the process involved in becoming a registered childminder. Contact them on 0800 169 4486 for details.

Can I claim financial help if a family member looks after my child?

Childcare provided by a relative of a child is generally not eligible for help from the childcare element of the Working Tax Credit or the tax and National Insurance contributions exemptions on employer-supported childcare.

The sole exception to this is when a relative has been registered as a childcare provider and happens to care for a related child, but whose primary or main paid child-caring is for children to whom they are not related. So that being a paid child-carer for the child to whom they are related is incidental - they must be looking after at least one other child who they are not related to. This care must be provided outside the child's own home.

A relative of the child means a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother or sister, whether by blood, half blood, marriage, or affinity.

Home early learning

I am looking after my grandchildren for two days each week; where can I find out more about activities to do with them to support their learning/development?

There are a lot of ways to find out about activities you can do. Your local Family Information Service (FIS) can tell you about local children's centres activities, toy libraries and other local services. Use this 'Find your FIS' function to find contact details for your local FIS. 

Pre-school Learning Alliance have lists of local baby and toddler groups that you can attend. If there is not a group local to you, they can provide you with information about setting a group up. They can be reached on 020 7697 2500.

Daycare Trust and The Grandparents Assocation are working together to support grandparents who provide informal childcare for their grandchildren. You can find childcare information specific to grandparents by visiting www.grandparents-association.org.uk.

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