Types of childcare available

As a parent you want the very best for your child. This is why choosing childcare may well be the single most important decision you will ever make.

It is important to plan ahead – often popular care providers have waiting lists. Searching for the right childcare setting will take some time and thought. Try to give yourself plenty of time to visit and choose a childcare setting.

Know your options

There are a variety of childcare options that are available to you. All of them offer benefits to your child – you need to make the choice of which setting is right for your child and your family. Remember you are the expert on your child so trust your feelings.

It is a good idea to take your child with you to see how he/she reacts. Try to go when children are there so you can see if they are calm, happy and busy.

Registered childcare:

• Day nurseries, provide care and education for children up to the age of five
• Registered childminders, look after children in the childminder's home
• Pre-schools / playgroups, provide sessional care and education, generally for children aged between two and half and five years
• Out of school care, including before & after school clubs and holiday schemes for children from 3-14 years
• Children's Centres

For guidance on the Ofsted National Standards for Under 8s Daycare and Childminding|, please contact Ofsted on 0845 601 4771.

• Approved Childcare, for childcare in the family home and for childcare solely for children over the age of seven on other domestic premises.

For more information on the Childcare Approval Scheme please contact the Sure Start Unit on 0845 767 8111.

Looking for a Day Nursery?   Back to top|

Day nurseries provide full day care, although children can attend on a full or part time basis. They are usually open all year. Most day nurseries offer the facility to take babies.

There are different kinds of day nurseries – private, community, local authority or workplace. All day nurseries must be registered and inspected by Ofsted - you can view the Ofsted report  or ask at the nursery.

Plus points

• your child may be able to access free nursery education
• a nursery is open for a full day enabling parents to work
• your child will be with a team of professional trained staff in childcare

Find out more

For a list of day nurseries in your area contact INFORM 0-19 on 0800 023 2057.

Looking for a registered childminder?   Back to top|


Childminders are self-employed and look after children in the childminder's home. They must be registered with Ofsted, which makes regular checks on a childminder and their home. The childminder and any other adults in their home are subject to a CRB Disclosure.

Childminders can often be flexible about the hours that they work, some are registered to care for child overnight.

A childminder is allowed to look after up to six children under eight years old including children of their own – but only three of them should be aged under five.

Plus points

• your child may be able to access free nursery education if the childminder is part of an accredited childminding network
• your child will be in a home environment
• can offer a flexible childcare service

Find out more
For a list of registered childminders in your area contact INFORM 0-19 on 0800 023 2057.

Looking for a Pre-school / playgroup?   Back to top|


Pre-schools / playgroups are for young children to learn and play in small groups, often close to their homes. Pre-schools / playgroups provide sessional care for children 2 ½  - 5 years, sessions are about two and half hours. They may also offer extended sessions to enable parents to work.

Pre-schools / playgroups are provider of early education giving children the opportunity to learn and play in groups.

They are often held in church halls or community centres and are run by trained playgroup leaders and parents are encouraged to be involved. Most pre-schools are registered and inspected by Ofsted.

Plus points

• your child can enjoy learning and playing in a group setting
• your child may be able to access free nursery education
• you can meet and get to know parents in your area

Find out more
For a list of pre-schools / playgroups in your area contact the INFORM 0-19 on 0800 023 2057.

Looking for Out of school care?   Back to top|


Out of school care provides care for children of school age outside of normal school hours to play, relax and have fun in groups. Schemes can provide care before and after school and all day during school holidays (this will vary from one facitltiy to the next). They are usually based in school premises. Some full day care nurseries offer additional out of school care too.

They usually open until 5.30 - 6pm and many offer breakfast club facilities from about 8am for parents who need to start work before school hours.

There are different types of out of school care so look around to find one that suits you and your child.

Plus points

• children can relax after school and have fun with their friends.
• geared to the needs of children with working parents
• offer a wide range of activities which children may not have the opportunity to carry out at home

Find out more
For a list of out of school care in your area contact the INFORM 0-19 on 0800 023 2057.

Children's Centres and Neighbourhood Nurseries   Back to top|


Children's centres is a new, national initiative to provide integrated services in local neighbourhoods which will improve outcomes for children aged 5 and under and their families.

At the time of writing the Bedfordshire Early Years and Childcare team is developing seven children's centres. The centres are at different stages of development however all the centres will be serving local families by 2006. By 2006 the full range of services provide by a children's centre will include:

• Early education and daycare
• Family support and parental outreach
• Child & family health service
• Links with schools and INFORM 0-19 
• Links with Jobcentre

Some of the children's centres are linked to neighbourhood nurseries that provide full daycare at an affordable rate to local parents within a specific ward. Bedfordshire currently has five neighbourhood nurseries serving the following wards:

• Cauldwell (Bedford);
• Dunstable Central, Priory and Northfields (Dunstable);
• Goldington (Bedford) and
• Houghton Central, with Houghton East and Houghton South (Houghton Regis)

Find out more

Contact INFORM 0-19 on 0800 023 2057 for further information and whether there is a children's centre / neighbourhood nursery in your local area.

Approved Childcare   Back to top|

Some parents may wish for their child to be cared for in the family home - this may be because they work irregular hours or have a child with an additional need or disability. As from April 2005 a new voluntary Childcare Approval Scheme will be launched in England. The scheme will approve nannies and childcarers to provide childcare in the family home or to care solely for children over the age of seven on other domestic premises.

By using an approved childcarer parents may be able to benefit from the childcare element of the working tax credit or employer supported childcare / vouchers. Parents will also have the added security of knowing that their nanny / childcarer has passed a series of key checks before being approved for the scheme.

To be eligible, nannies and childcarers must:

• have a relevant childcare qualification or have attended an approved induction course in childcare.
• be 18 years or older;
• have an up to date certificate in first aid that is suitable to the care of babies and children
• have an enhanced disclosure check from the Criminal Records Bureau.

Nestor Healthcare, under contract to the Department for Education and Skills, will be providing the approval scheme|.

Things to consider:

• the scheme does not verify whether the childcarer is eligible to work in the UK.
• the scheme does not clarify the age group that they are suited to work with.
• the scheme does not guarantee that parents using an approved childcarer are entitled to financial support either via working tax credit or employer supported childcare.
• the scheme does not remove the parents' responsibility to make sure that childcarers are individually suitable to look after their children.

Plus points

• your child can be looked after in their own home
• can offer you a flexible childcare service
• you may be able to access financial support through the childcare element of working tax credit

Find out more
Please contact the Sure Start Unit on 0845 767 8111 for more information regarding the scheme.

Complaints about Childcare   Back to top|


The Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED) is responsible for the regulation of providers of childcare services in addition to its current role of inspecting schools.

If you are not happy with the care that your child is receiving and have spoken with your carer but are still not satisfied with the outcome, then you can phone the OFSTED Complaints Line. OFSTED will investigate any complaints about providers and take enforcement action if providers do not meet the national standards set.

OFSTED Complaints Line Number 0845 601 4772