Interest in taking on this new role from registered childminders has been scant so far, without the added factor of becoming an employee of the parents in whose home you work. Those childminders who wish to do some work in their own home and some in a child's home will have the burden of complicated tax and salary arrangements to contend with.
This latest move only serves to highlight the fact that home childcarers will be working in exactly the same way as nannies, yet there are still no indications that nannies will become registered so that parents will be able to claim tax relief for employing them. The home childcarer scheme could be doomed to failure almost before it has begun.
If you are working as a nanny, turn to our Professional Nanny supplement, free this week with Nursery World, for the usual wealth of information and advice designed to support you in your role as a high-quality childcarer, regardless of the lack of Government recognition.
Liz Roberts editor