Hello
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you about this.
The information that I am giving you is from 3 or 4 years ago so some of it could have changed now
My daughter decided to become a childminder alongside myself but first she was going to become my assistant we decided against it so she became registered instead
Because she is registered if I am ill she can be left with the children all day same if she is ill I can be left with the children all day because we are both registered
If she was my assistant she could not be left with the children alone if I was ill
If she was my assistant and she was ill then i could still care for the children because I am registered to do so
You would have to pay an assistant a minimum wage
This is what some of the paperwork I have says ...........
You have to demonstrate that everyone who looks after children with you is suitable to do so.You should arrange for everyone looking after children with you to complete a declaration and a consent form you can call Ofsted for the form or download it here and send it off ( the form is up to date they have not changed it since last year )
www.ofsted.gov.uk/portal/site/Internet/menuitem.eace3f09a603f6d9c3172a8a08c08a0c/?vgnextoid=4df9c30f8636c010VgnVCM1000003507640aRCRDThis form asks for their consent to carry out a series of checks and for Ofsted to use the information from those checks to decide about their suitability they will check with the CRB and the child protection register
May also carry out other checks if they think it necessary
If you are not yet registered and you mention to Ofsted that you would like a person to assist you they will take into account the suitability of the person to assist you when deciding if to grant your registration
( Personally I think if you are thinking of doing that it could be worth getting registered first because it could hold it up if they have to check out the both of you !! )
Hope this helps
My view is if you are thinking of getting an assistant it could be more trouble than it is worth ... you would have to be making a fair bit of money yourself to pay someone else.
What about when children leave etc
Childminding can be so up and down
Another option that I thought might be of some use to you is you can call your local college
A lot of the girls are usually 17 and 18 and need placements for their childcare course you can give your details and have someone help you for about a year I think it is
The college pay them and if they are not suitable or do not turn up etc etc you can call the college and complain and have someone else.
At least that way you get the help you need, you get to help someone else with their childcare training
You do not have to pay them
When my daughter did her training at college they had to have CRB checks so no waiting around for that either.
You get none of the hassle !!!! Sounds good to me ha
You can not leave a college student on their own with the children though.
Hope this has helped a little like Pauline says there is not a lot of information about this at all
Angel xx