Nursery World - Nannies excluded from care rules

The Scottish Executive has ruled out putting nanny agencies and nannies under the same regulatory body as other early years education and childcare services, despite the concerns expressed by a number of MSPs in the Scottish parliament last week. Minister for health and community care Susan Deacon opened a debate on the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Bill, which is currently making its way through the parliament, with the news that the Government proposes to extend regulation 'to agencies that provide care for any children in their own home where the carer is selected or employed by the agency rather than the parent'. However, this will not apply to most nanny agencies, as they do not employ nannies but rather recommend them to parents.

Minister for health and community care Susan Deacon opened a debate on the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Bill, which is currently making its way through the parliament, with the news that the Government proposes to extend regulation 'to agencies that provide care for any children in their own home where the carer is selected or employed by the agency rather than the parent'. However, this will not apply to most nanny agencies, as they do not employ nannies but rather recommend them to parents.

Ms Deacon said, 'That will mean we will regulate sitter services, where an agency provides home-based care for families who need additional support or respite. Carers such as babysitters and nannies who are selected and employed by the parents will not be regulated, as that would be unreasonable and impractical.'

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