Nannies, au pairs and babysitters
Nannies
Nannies are employed by parents to care for children at home and can be suitable for parents who need flexible childcare.
Although many do have nursery nurse or childcare training, nannies do not have to hold qualifications.
Nannies can register with Ofsted but it is voluntary, so parents are responsible for interviewing and checking the registration and all of the relevant references of nannies.
Any nannies who wish to register with Ofsted must demonstrate their understanding of the early years foundation stage curriculum (EYFS).
Parents are responsible for paying their tax and national insurance.
For more information on finding a registered nanny, visit the childcare website.
Au pairs
An au pair is usually a young person looking for an opportunity to travel and live/work with a host family in a new country, learn a foreign language and experience a country's culture.
The au pair will work a set amount of hours for the host family, usually doing a mixture of childcare and light housework. The au pair may have some childcare experience and even qualifications, but an au pair is not a nanny.
For more information about au pairs, visit the childcare website or the British Au Pair Agencies' Association.
Babysitters
There's no law which states the minimum age that a child can be left unaccompanied, but it is an offence to leave a child alone when doing so puts the child at risk.
Babysitters are not registered with Ofsted and there are no regulations to govern this type of childcare.
We don't hold lists of people who offer babysitting, however, we do hold lists of registered childminders, and some childminders may be willing to do some evening or weekend babysitting.
Parents may also wish to find a sitter by asking a friend or a relative with children for a recommendation, or by searching the web for babysitting agencies.
If you use a babysitting agency, ask whether they interview and take up references, and whether sitters are required to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Recommendations from NSPCC and RoSPA on babysitters
The NSPCC recommends that most children under 13 should not be left for more than a short period, and that no child under 16 should be left overnight.
Both the NSPCC and RoSPA recommend that babysitters should be over 16 years of age and that parents ask for at least two references and contact the referees themselves.