Having grandparents or other relatives care for your child or children has potential advantages and disadvantages which may include some of the following:
Some advantages:
- familiar adult who knows and loves your child;
- may be more affordable;
- may be prepared to work flexibly including anti-social hours.
Some disadvantages:
- tension if approach to child rearing is different;
- your child or children may have little contact with other children;
- parents often cannot take advantage of Tax Credits or Childcare Vouchers.
A grandparent or relative can provide good and reliable childcare; it keeps childcare ‘within the family’ and keeps children within familiar surroundings. They are often willing to take children to a Parent and Toddler group or other activity groups to provide the child with some other social contact. They may be able to do the ‘pre-school’ and ‘school run’ and also provide care in the holidays.
For a grandparent to be registered as a childminder, they must be prepared to care for other children or prove they have made continuous efforts to find work caring for other children.
A grandparent who is only prepared to care for their own grandchildren cannot seek registration as a childminder.
If a grandparent becomes a registered childminder you may be entitled to apply for the Childcare Element of Working Tax Credit.
