Assistants for children under the age of eight years

Other than a babysitting arrangement between 6pm and 2am, or as a member of the family, any individual being paid (or receiving any other ‘reward’) to care for a child under eight, in the absence of the child’s parent for more than two hours a day, is not considered a personal assistant. In most circumstances they are legally required to register as a childminder with Ofsted. For further information, please see the government website

You must register as a childminder if all of the following apply:

• the children are under the age of 8
• you look after them for more than 2 hours a day
• you look after them in your own home
• you get paid to look after them - including payment in kind

You can register with Ofsted online. To register with a childminder agency, contact them directly.