The facts
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Home-based childcare means having childcare that is based in your own home
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Can provide care for children of any age
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Can work more flexibly and provide care at more un-sociable hours than other types of childcare
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The main types of home based childcare are nannies, au pairs and babysitter
A Nanny
- Employed by parents to look after children in the child’s home
- At least 18 years old and usually has some qualification in childcare as well as training in first aid and child protection
- Some nannies go home at the end of the day, and some live in
- Nannies do not have to be registered with Ofsted, but can apply to be
Ofsted registered as a 'Home Childcarer'. This means that parents can benefit from any government or company childcare benefits, such as working tax credits and childcare vouchers.
What will a nanny cost me?
- Wages range from £120 to £400 per week, depending on their hours, how much experience they have, what they will be doing and where you live
- You will also have to pay their tax and National Insurance contributions. Contact the Inland Revenue’s Employers Helpline on
0845 143 143 for advice on tax and national insurance
- Other costs include holiday and sick pay, a mobile phone so that they are contactable, and adding them to your car insurance if you want them to drive.
How do I find a nanny?
- You can contact a nanny/au pair/babysitting agency who can find you nannies to match your requirements. Remember to ask the agency what checks have been made
- You can advertise for an au pair in your local paper, on local notice boards and where nannies may see your advert e.g. places where there are children’s activities
- Try a local college that runs childcare courses.
An Au Pair
- A young person between 17 and 27 years old who live with a family in the UK whilst they learn English
- Don’t usually have childcare qualifications or training
- Generally help with housework and look after the children
- Should stay for a minimum of 6 months, but for no longer than 2 years
- Need to be given enough time to attend language courses.
How do I find an au pair?
- You can contact a nanny/au pair/babysitting agency who can find you nannies to match your requirements. Remember to ask the agency what checks have been made
- You can advertise for an au pair in your local paper, on local notice boards and where nannies may see your advert e.g. places where there are children’s activities
- Try a local college that runs childcare courses.
What will an au pair cost me?
- Usually given full board (their own bedroom, food etc) and pocket money
- The cost of adding them to your car insurance if you want them to drive
- Pocket money around £60 per week, although this may depend on where you live and the arrangements you have made with the au pair.
A Babysitter
- Usually a young adult who comes into the home to look after the children while parent(s) go out for a short period of time
- Usually family or friends
- Anyone younger than 16 cannot be charged with neglect or ill treatment of children in their care. This means that if you leave your children with someone under 16 you are still responsible for them and if something goes wrong and you are found to have left your children with an unsuitable babysitter, you could be charged with neglect
- The NSPCC has advice on choosing a babysitter.
How much will a babysitter cost me?
- Often paid by the hour or night for an agreed amount, usually in the range of £3 to £8 per hour
- If you want you babysitter to stay all night, it is better to agree on an overnight fee beforehand.
Where do I find a babysitter?
- You can contact a nanny/au pair/babysitting agency who can find you nannies to match your requirements. Remember to ask the agency what checks have been made
- You can advertise for an au pair in your local paper, on local notice boards and where nannies may see your advert e.g. places where there are children’s activities
- Try a local college that runs childcare courses.
Further information and contacting us
If you would like further advice on nannies, au pairs and baby sitters, contact the Family Information Service.
Phone
0800 952 5678 (freephone)
0116 225 4890 (local rate)
Online
Email: family@leicester.gov.uk
Website: http://families.leicester.gov.uk/
