Childcare Options

As a new parent, choosing a childcare provider can be an incredibly daunting task. There are so many different options available, all with a range of unique benefits. In this article, we will share a summary of the different options available to help you decide which ones best suit your family’s needs and budget.

We understand how important finding the right childcare service is, and that one service provider may be more suited to your family’s needs than another. We hope that this document will help guide you through this decision and help you understand exactly how our service differs from alternative care options.

Your childcare options will include:

Childminders

Childminders are self-employed and usually take care of children within their own home. They will need to be registered with Ofsted (in England), the Care Inspectorate (in Scotland) and Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW).

Children’s centres

Children’s centres aim to be a ‘one-stop-shop’ for families and will have facilities to support early education, childcare, health, family support and help into employment (for parents and carers). Childcare facilities vary between centres – while some may offer nursery facilities, many don’t.

Day nurseries

Day nurseries offer care for children from birth to four or five years old. There are different types of nurseries including private, community, local authority and workplace nurseries.

Pre-school playgroups

Less formal than nurseries, playgroups operate for a few hours each day only and do not provide full-time care. Parents may be asked to volunteer their support for certain periods.

Crèches

Crèches will provide ‘occasional care’ for children and are provided on particular premises. Parents will use them on an irregular basis i.e. when they go to the gym or if they’re shopping.

Nannies

A nanny is someone who is typically paid to look after a child (or children) in the home of the child. They can either live-in or live-out, depending on their arrangement with the family.

Au pair

These are often students from outside the UK, who are here to study and improve their English. They must also be provided with a bedroom, meals and pocket money.

Informal childcare

A family member, often a grandparent, may agree to take on some of the childcare. Frequently this is part-time, for example one to two days per week, or after the hours of formal childcare.

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