UK: Govt. says mothers may not look after each other's children

More insane dictatorship from the government. 

Two working mothers have been banned from looking after each other's toddlers because they are not registered childminders.

The close friends' private arrangement had let them both return to part-time jobs at the same company.

However, a whistleblower reported them to the education watchdog Ofsted and it found their informal deal broke the law.

Continues:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1216220/Mothers-banned-looking-children.html

But...the children are friends so why wouldn't it just be considered one having the other over to play? 

But...the children are friends so why wouldn't it just be considered one having the other over to play? 

According to the article, this is why (and also why they say it's illegal):

This was because little-known rules say friends cannot gain a 'reward' by looking after a child for more than two hours outside the child's home without agreeing to a number of checks including one from the Criminal Records Bureau.

Although the mothers never paid each other, their job-sharing deal was judged to be a 'reward'. Campaigners fear thousands of working families could be innocently breaking the rules by relying on close friends for informal childcare.

Yes, it's still ridiculous...

See it is ridiculous, but the glories of democracy mean that people have the right to protest any unfair law or regulation.  They have a petition going and the powers that be are looking at the meaning of the word "reward".

On one hand we can bemoan the stupidity of the person that reported these two women, and the stupidity of who ever interpreted "reward" as the two women helping out each other, but in the end I'm still happy to be a part of a nation that gives people a chance to change unfair laws.

I think the person that reported them should be smacked with a fine for reporting them personally.   

*sigh* so now the children are in daycare, when it probably was more beneficial for them to be playing in each other's homes getting one-on-two attention from one of the mums!

Can they just both get "checked out" and legally become childminders? That way they could continue? Of course, i have no idea what is involved in that. THough, I would guess the cost would ultimately be less than daycare.

How ridiculous.  I was just thinking that an arrangement like this would be great if I had a friend with similar interests etc.  No constant snotty noses from nursery, not 3/4 of my paycheck going to childcare fees, peace of mind that my child is being looked after by someone who cares for her and looks after her in a similar manner to me.  I hope the petition makes a difference.

Can they just both get "checked out" and legally become childminders? That way they could continue? Of course, i have no idea what is involved in that. THough, I would guess the cost would ultimately be less than daycare.

That would seem the obvious solution to me too.

I understand the need to have someone checked out if they're going to take strangers' children into their home in exchange for money, but I don't see the need for a background check for two parents who are friends and doing each other a favor by taking care of each others' kids, even if it's on a regular basis.  Applying the law to this sort of situation is dumb.

I guess the major issue here is the loose interpretation of the word 'reward'.  If I ask my mother-in-law to watch my daughter while me and my husband go out on a date, is this not a 'reward' for us?  So I can't have my own family watch my own child without being inspected and approved by social services first? 

The women technically were getting a monetary gain from this because it allowed them to work and get paid...without paying a babysitter.  Is that now the determining factor as to whether or not it is a 'reward' (monetary gain)?

This is ridiculous regardless and what kind of person reports this to authorities?  Someone who is jealous because they don't have friends to babysit for free...

This is ridiculous regardless and what kind of person reports this to authorities?  Someone who is jealous because they don't have friends to babysit for free...

I'm thinking it was a jealous co-worker of some sort.

I guess the major issue here is the loose interpretation of the word 'reward'.  If I ask my mother-in-law to watch my daughter while me and my husband go out on a date, is this not a 'reward' for us?  So I can't have my own family watch my own child without being inspected and approved by social services first? 

The women technically were getting a monetary gain from this because it allowed them to work and get paid...without paying a babysitter.  Is that now the determining factor as to whether or not it is a 'reward' (monetary gain)?

This is ridiculous regardless and what kind of person reports this to authorities?  Someone who is jealous because they don't have friends to babysit for free...

Well, technically, you could have your MIL watch your child, because these rules don't apply to family members...

The other way to get around it would have been for the mother doing the babysitting to drag her kid to the other kid's house so that the other kid would be in her own home...

I too am happy to hear about a petition and hope someone comes up with a different interpretation for 'reward' - bartering has been around for a long time...

I'm still happy to be a part of a nation that gives people a chance to change unfair laws.

But how sad that we're part of a nation which now has such dictatorial government that such a law could ever have been passed in the first place.

But how sad that we're part of a nation which now has such dictatorial government that such a law could ever have been passed in the first place.

What law are you talking about?  That child minders need to be registered?  That's a good thing. This case is not a good thing, but child minders needing to be registered and inspected is.

How ridiculous this is!! When I read stories like these, it makes me grateful that my kids are mostly grown!!

This same thing is happening in Michigan btw, but thank goodness the powers that be realize how stupid this is and are trying to change it:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090930/ap_on_re_us/us_baby_sitter_backlash_mich