Technically, the requirements are a little stricter: "You must register with Ofsted or a childminder agency if you want to be paid to look after children under

Technically, the requirements are a little stricter: "You must register with Ofsted or a childminder agency if you want to be paid to look after children under 8 for more than 2 hours a day in England"[1] In the example of leaving your children with a friend, the exemption is for a maximum of 3 hours (per day), if the friend is being paid. Any longer and the friend is obliged to register with Ofsted (with a penalty of an unlimited fine and/or jail for not being registered). I doubt many people would think to check the legal requirements though. [1] https://www.gov.uk/register-childminder-childcare-provider/overview https://www.gov.uk/register-childminder-childcare-provider/o...