Sounds attractive, but

[tresa123]

Yes I would know what to do as I was a qualified first aider for several years and I keep up to date on the progress and new information on first aid .When I visit playgroups with my 2 year old grandchild I always talk to the other mums and nans and say they should take first aid in the home courses which you can do at your local college or st johns.Advice is out there and we all want our grandchildren to be safe but accidents do happen....

[Gaggy]

I have only just joined grannynet, following the item on the One Show. There seems to be a lot of debate about whether Grandparents should be "rewarded" for childminding.
My situation is a little different in that my daughter's husband died very suddenly a few years ago,so when my husband and I retired two years ago we all made the decision to move down South and find a property to share. We eventually found this place, two adjoining bungalows, each with it's own front door..ideal! My daughter, of necessity has to work, but discovered that if I was child-minding she would lose all Government benefits! So, I duly went along to a meeting regarding becoming a Registered Childminder (even though I would only wish to look after my grandsons)
The red tape and formalities were unbelievable! Yes, I understand and appreciate that one needs to know about first aid, food hygiene, and obviously the home has to be safe and secure. I calculated that, even with a grant, the cost of conforming to the required standards and undergoing all the training, plus fencing in our acre of garden, would be too prohibitive.
Consequently, although I look after the two boys for 3 or 4 days a week after school, all day on Saturdays, and obviously during the holidays, my daughter is not entitled to claim any support, and therefore is unable to offer me any remuneration!
I love my boys, and wouldn't have it any other way, but it does mean that I am tied and not as free to enjoy my retirement as I would have wished.
We are all hard up....we had to take out a Mortgage even though retired, and a little "pocket money" would come in very handy. I feel very strongly that the Government should be able to offer a "third option" to add to Registered Childminders and Nurseries, that of Grandparents or similar relations willing to undertake the childcare. Obviously there would have to be some safeguards, possibly a watered down training scheme, or may be conforming to set standards and regular inspections, but I'm sure it could be done, to the benefit of parents and grandparents, and most importantly to children.

[Jane Fallon]

In answer to the emergency questions, Yes. Could I have done so when I first became a Mother, No. Should I be paid by the government, or rather should the childcare allowance be payable to me - Yes. I do a far better one-to-one job caring for my grandchildren than any pre-school, nursery would/could do, plus, I look after them when they are poorly, allowing their parents to go to work, which is more than any nursery etc. would do.

[mama t]

hi everyone
i haven't been on for a while but as a full time granny social services put my grandchildren imy care without any training what so ever. if they had planned the care of my grandson's properly yes i would get paid and yes i would have had to do some courses but just so the gov could save money, so i say if they are willing to pay you to care and teach you to keep the little ones safe then accept it as there are granparents out there who struggle and if you don't need the money save it for the little ones for when they are older.

love n light mama t.