The regulator stressed that people who baby-sit for one another's children for more than two hours at a time or for more than 14 days per year should be registered.
This applies where parents receive a "reward" for the childcare - which can include money or simply free baby-sitting in return.
According to the Mail on Sunday, Detective Constable Leanne Shepherd from Milton Keynes was warned by Ofsted to end a reciprocal arrangement with her friend DC Lucy Jarrett.
She told the newspaper: "When the Ofsted inspector turned up, the first thing she said was 'I have had a report that you're running an illegal childminding business'.
A petition to scrap the rules governing reciprocal child care on the Number 10 website has already gathered more than 2,000 signatures.
Is it right that you should register as a childminder if you babysit for a friend? Is this a sensible precaution to help protect children or is it a case of bureaucracy being pushed to extremes?
Naturally, every parent needs to be aware of, and watchful for, the possibility of abuse, even by relatives or close friends; but the number of cases of abuse in registered nurseries and playschools over the years indicates that Ofsted registration and inspection is no more guarantee of safety than parents' own good sense. The case of these two policewomen is a scandal, and my heart goes out to them. I hope and pray for a satisfactory resolution for them.
REMEMBER THE HITLER YOUTH??. It is so easy to sleep walk into this,
Oh ...I get it ,the govenment are missing out on some TAX after all the mess they have made they need it.
STOP THIS NANNY STATE AND JUST LEAVE US ALONE !
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