Home childcarer and non-registered childcare

What is a home childcarer?

A home childcarer is someone who cares for children in the child’s own home, or in the home of another child they are caring for. Home childcarers are more commonly referred to as a nanny or au pair. As well as providing childcare, the role may also involve taking on additional tasks around the home, such as cleaning or cooking. A home childcarer can care for children from up to two families at any one time. Sometimes a home childcarer will be asked to ‘live in’.

Why do parents choose home childcare?

• They provide flexible childcare to support unusual or unsociable working patterns.
• Childcare generally takes place in the child’s own home so parents don’t have to worry about dropping off or collecting children from external childcare provision.
• Housework tasks may be taken care of as part of the overall duties.

Employment status

Home childcarers are most often employed by the family. In addition to paying your salary, they are also responsible for making your tax, National Insurance contributions and must offer you the opportunity to be included in a work-based pension scheme.

HMRC will only grant a home childcarer self-employed status in exceptional circumstances. For further information contact HMRC.

Whilst some home childcarers hold a recognised childcare qualification this is not compulsory.

It is not mandatory for home childcarers to register with Ofsted, however, they can choose to register on the voluntary part of the Childcare Register.

The benefits of registering with Ofsted

• Ofsted registered Home Childcarers undergo a variety of suitability checks, which increases parental confidence in their suitability
• Parents may be able to receive support towards the cost of their childcare
• The Coventry Family Information Directory can advertise your services to parents, via their website

Before applying to register with Ofsted

Carefully read the following guidance notes prepared by Ofsted:

• The Early Years and Childcare Handbook

Ofsted registration not required

Some types of childcare are not required to be registered with Ofsted because they are exempt from the Early Years and Compulsory Childcare registers.

To find out if this applies to you, please read the Ofsted fact sheet

Early Years and Childcare Handbook - Annex A. Registration not required.