Types of childcare and how to choose

A Childminder works in their own home (not in your home). They work on their own or with another childminder or child-minding assistant. They care for children of different ages. Some care for children from birth right through to primary school age or older if needed. 

• they can care for siblings together, in the same space 
• they tend to be more flexible. Some offer evening, weekend and overnight care
• there are usually only a small number of children in the setting 
• often described as a 'home from home' 
• they follow an early years curriculum, supporting you with your child's development 

Day Nurseries can care for children aged from birth to five years and usually offer day care from 7am or 8am to 6pm, for most of the year. 

• they can vary in size from as little as 20 places to over 100 places
• they have a variety of hours available to suit the needs of the children and their families
• they tend to be split into different rooms depending on the age of the child
• some provide meals like breakfast, lunch and tea depending on the length of a child's session
• they offer a range of activities for children. Some have forest or beach school sessions, dance groups, yoga or even learning a new language
• they follow an early years curriculum and children will get a key worker who parents can talk to or go to for support

Pre-schools and playgroups offer care to children in their local community. They often care for children aged from two to five years and are usually open during term time. Some pre-schools and playgroups are only open 9am to 3pm.

• some groups are based in community buildings such as church or village halls 
• children often stay for shorter sessions here and sometimes attend another group as well, for example going to a school based nursery
• a range of fun toys, activities and equipment are available for the children
• they are are often ran by committees and charities in the local area
• they follow an early years curriculum and children will get a key worker who parents can talk to or go to for support

School based nurseries offer childcare to children normally from aged three to five years, but some can take children from aged two. They are usually open the same hours as the primary school and only during school term time.

• the nursery must have a qualified teacher running the class and at least one other staff member there
• some schools work together with day nurseries or pre-schools & playgroups, so children can have full day care
• some work with out of school clubs for before or after school childcare
• some offer only morning or afternoon sessions but others can offer full days
• they follow an early years curriculum and children will get a key worker who parents can talk to or go to for support

Out of School Clubs provide safe and stimulating play opportunities for school age children at times when schools are not open. They can operate before school in the mornings, from the end of the school day and to the end of the working day, throughout the school holidays, or a combination of all three. 

• they help parents to go to work and balance work and family life
• are a fun and safe place for children outside of school hours
• they often go on trips in the local community like the park, museums, the beach
• sometimes children make friends with children from other schools and look forward to seeing them again at the club

Nanny or home childcarers are carers which look after children in your family home. They can fit in with unusual hours and working patterns and are employed by the family to care for the children.

• there are different types of nannies and homecarers. Some live with the family or some live in their own homes. Some are only employed for a short while whilst the child is a baby
• some might go on holiday with the family to help care for the children
• they should have DBS checks, a paediatric first aid certificate and have safeguarding children training 
• some nannies or homecarers can help with housework 
• nannies normally look after children from the same family but some families can nanny share. This means looking after two families at the same time

• The hours the setting offers. Does this fit in with your family needs?
• What are the costs? Ask what you are entitled to before you sign any paperwork and check for any extra costs you could be charged. Is there a registration fee you need to pay?
• Look around on a visit. Are the children having fun and involved in what they are doing? Do they seem happy and settled? Are there engaging activities out for the children to play with? 
• Pay attention to adult/child interactions and how staff speak to the children. Do you as a parent feel welcomed and listened to? 
• Think about the safety measures like, is there a locked door or gate? What happens if someone the setting doesn't know, comes to pick up your child?
• Ask about staff qualifications, paediatric first aid and if all staff have had a DBS (criminal record) check.
• Childcare settings should offer settling in sessions for your child - Ask how many? Are they free? What happens if your child takes longer to settle? 
• Ask your friends/family if they have heard about the setting. Reviews from people who have attended previously can be really helpful. 
• Ask to see the outdoor space and any other rooms the setting has, so you can see all ages of children, not just your child's age.
• Sometimes children may need extra help and support, especially if they have a Special Educational Need or Disability (SEND). Tell the setting if your child has extra needs, to make sure they can support where needed. Perhaps your child is potty training at the moment - ask the setting how they can help you with this. 

• Make sure to find out what you need to bring with your child each day. This could be nappies, wipes and spare clothes. Also ask if they provide meals and snacks or formula for babies, as some settings include this in their fees. 
• Check for any fees you may have to pay - you don't want to end up with an unexpected bill at the end of the month.
• You may need childcare so you can go back to work. Try to arrange settling sessions in advance of your start date, so you have time to make sure your child is happy and settled. This will put your mind at ease too!
• Check you have filled in all paperwork needed, applied for any childcare funding in advance (the setting can advise you on this if you are eligible. Also see Free childcare). Check if you need to hand in any identification. 

Ofsted is the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills. They inspect services providing education, skills and care for learners of all ages. They also inspect and regulate services that care for children and young people. 

All providers who are part of our childcare directory are registered with Ofsted. An Ofsted report can help give you an impression of the provider before you visit. Each report highlights what the provider does well and were they could do better. You can also read historic reports and the outcome of any concerns raised about the provider. 

If a provider doesn't have an Ofsted history this means they are in the first 2 and half years of their registration. They will have been visited by and Ofsted inspector before they opened. 

While a providers Ofsted record can be a useful tool we would always suggest you visit a provider in person, and if possible, talk to other parents that use that provider. It is important to remember that an Ofsted inspection may only take place once every 6 years, and usually only lasts for one day.