Childminders on school run 'not minicabs'

The Department of Transport has published new guidance to clarify the ‘grey areas’ in legislation where it is not clear whether a particular vehicle should be licensed or not.

The confusion has also led to some childminders being asked to have a CRB check twice.

Changes to the minicab licensing laws in 2006 have meant that some councils have been classing childminders, and some care and support workers, as minicab drivers. The new guidance aims to make it clearer for local authorities which vehicles the Government believes should have licences and those that do not need them.

The department’s guidance states that, ‘Car journeys undertaken in the context of most typical childminding arrangements would not fall within the PHV (private hire vehicle) licensing regime.’
It gives the example of 'a typical childminding arrangement' as one where a childminder uses his or her own car to transport one or more children to and from school, it says. It also means that childminders will be able to take children on trips.

Stuart Turner, director of professional standards at the National Childminding Association, said, ‘This guidance will be welcomed by registered childminders, and will help to ensure they are not required to hold a private hire vehicle licence when taking children on the school run or on trips to the park.’

He added, ‘It’s vital that children can access learning and development opportunities out in the community, and this guidance will help to ensure childminders can continue to offer this for children in their care.’

Volunteers who give lifts to people as part of their voluntary work, and care and support workers, including those who care for adults in their own home, community settings or in residential care homes, should also be exempt from licensing their vehicles, the guidance says.

Transport minister Norman Baker said, ‘Clearly parents helping out at a playgroup, or carers getting people to the doctor are not minicab drivers. I hope that by publishing this new guidance today these people will be able to get on with their vital activities, without the hassle or cost of getting a minicab licence. Councils will also benefit by cutting out unnecessary paperwork, which wastes valuable time and money.’