Why did Ofsted inspectors knock on their door?
The claim against the arrangement was that the two mothers were looking after the children for a “reward” – in this case, helping each other with childcare, which they say helped them return to work. The Childcare Act 2006 talks about “reward” without making a distinction between financial payment and other incentives, such as a swap between parents. Where there is such an arrangement, the person caring for children in their home (rather than the child’s home) might then have to be registered and inspected by England’s education watchdog Ofsted. Failure to comply could lead to a fine up to £5,000. Does everyone who looks after each others’ children need to be registered? There are exemptions. As well as parents and step-parents, relatives do not have to be registered. Relatives are defined as “grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother or sister, whether of the full blood or half blood or by marriage or civil partnership”. What about friends helping each other with child care? The regulations d
