Childcare that is registered with Ofsted provides a number of statutory safeguards. These are that the providers are qualified, experienced, insured, and have been checked with regard to their suitability to work with children by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB check).

With unregistered childcare these safeguards are not provided by the state. Checks on an unregistered provider’s qualifications, experience and suitability to work with children are the responsibility of the parents. Unregistered childcarers include nannies (if they are not registered by Ofsted as home childcarers), au pairs and babysitters.

Nannies

Nannies are employed by parents to care for their children in the family home. Parents employing a nanny have responsibilities as employers for matters such as appropriate insurance and PAYE.

Many nannies are qualified and experienced in childcare but there is no requirement that someone calling themselves a nanny has relevant qualifications or experience. There is no independent mechanism for a nanny to have a Criminal Records Bureau check.

Parents who use the help of a nanny agency to find a nanny can ask the agency about the measures they take to check that their staff are suitable.

Some nannies choose to apply to register with Ofsted. Once accepted they are listed on the voluntary childcare register and are known as home childcarers. For more information about home childcarers, please go to the Childminding page.

Au pairs

Au pairs are employed, often from overseas, to live and work with a family. They are paid in exchange for childcare and sometimes also housework. As with nannies there is no qualification requirement or mechanism for an au pair to have a Criminal Records Bureau check.

Babysitters

Babysitters often care for children in the family home either to provide time for leisure activities or to bridge gaps in other childcare arrangements. Often babysitters are friends or neighbours who are well known to the family.

Parents need to be aware that if they leave a child with a babysitter under the age of 16, the parents remain legally responsible for the children during that time. There is no independent mechanism for a babysitter to have a Criminal Records Bureau check.