Petition to: submit a change in the law regarding reciprocal childcare.

E-Petitions

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to submit a change in the law regarding reciprocal childcare. More details

Submitted by Nicola Davies – Deadline to sign up by: 09 March 2010 – Signatures: 20,663

Petition update, 09 October 2009, while petition was still open

You signed a petition asking the Prime Minister to "submit a change in the law regarding reciprocal childcare".

The Prime Minister's Office has responded to that petition and you can view it here:

http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page20902

Prime Minister's Office

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More details from petition creator

Imagine this:

Two women from the same company give birth at similar times. When their children reach one year old both women wish to return to work on a part time basis. They decide to job share and undertake reciprocal childcare in order to minimise their outgoings and enable themselves to return to work. The children are very good friends and have grown up together as sisters and the two women are very good friends and trust each other to look after their child.

However, after a visit from Ofsted they have now been stopped from doing this. The reason? Apparently due to the law concerning childcare, this is illegal due to the fact that they get a reward for looking after the child (i.e. reward = childcare when they go to work!)

They have now been forced to put their children into childcare meaning they can't work as they wished due to the elevated costs. In a day and age when the Government want women to return to work, why is it made so difficult for people?

We are asking the Prime Minister to review the meaning of reward in the Children's Act to money and gifts so reciprocal childcare would be allowed.

If you agree, please sign the petition to show your support.