Despite the shortage of places, there is a reasonable range of childcare options on offer in the UK – formal, informal, full and part-time, inside and outside a home environment, in family units and larger community groups. The precise needs and economic considerations of each family automatically make some forms of childcare more suitable and attractive than others. The (often elusive) ideal for every parent is a flexible, child-centred model, which promotes the social, emotional and intellectual development of the child while positively welcoming parental involvement.

In professional circles, there is a growing recognition of the need to integrate care and education in the early years in order to lay the best possible foundations for school. This is the focus of the burgeoning early years/childcare organisations that support childcare professionals directly through training and information and indirectly through research and representation in the public forum.

If there is any simple advice for parents embarking on the search for childcare, it is to bear the needs of the individual child in mind, to trust your instincts when choosing and to be alert to positive and negative signals from your child once the arrangement is in place. It also makes sense to re-evaluate your childcare periodically to ensure that the option you have chosen remains the most suitable for you and your child.

HOME-BASED CHILDCARE

Childminders 

Childminders are self-employed carers currently registered with and inspected by the Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED) in line with national standards established in 2001. Childminders are registered to look after up to six children up to the age of eight at any one time, usually in the childminder’s own home. The Care Standards Act 2000 stipulates that they should have no more than three children under five in their care and normally no more than one child can be under one year but there are exceptions made, in the cases of twins for example. These numbers include the childminder's own children. Childminders can also look after children up to age of 14 as long as this does not adversely affect the care of the children under eight.

The expertise of most childminders comes from their own experience of bringing up children, although a new three-part childminding qualification has been developed which results in a certificate awarded by CACHE. The benefits of childminding to parents and children include flexible hours, contact with other children, care for siblings of different ages, continuity of care once a child starts school, and affordability.

As of June 2004 there were 76,000 registered childminders in England and Wales providing 322,000 places. Costs vary as there is no national rate, but you can expect to pay between Ј2 and Ј5 per hour (the National Childminding Association has a helpful survey of fees charged in 2002-2003 in its Q&A section). ChildcareLink estimates a rate of between Ј68 and Ј160 per child per week for full-time care.

Call the ChildcareLink information line (freephone ) for details of your local Childcare Information Service or use the ChildcareLink map to find out about local childminders. Alternatively, consult your health visitor.

Choosing a Childminder

The National Childminding Association (NCMA) is a registered charity incorporated in 1986 to raise standards and enhance the image and status of childminding in England and Wales. The association works to improve conditions for childminders, children, and parents and offers support for local childminding networks. Parents considering this option will find most of their questions answered in the NCMA’s ‘How to Find a Registered Childminder’ page (click the button on the home page). The association’s ‘Children Come First’ initiative is an indication of their commitment to deliver quality assurance. The NCMA information line is on .

The Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) publishes good information in ‘Choosing a Registered Childminder’ on its website. SCMA operates an advice line on .

According to the Northern Ireland Childminding Association (NICMA), there are approximately 4,300 registered childminders in Northern Ireland, with childminding accounting for 75% of full daycare in the province. NICMA provides a childminding information and vacancy service free for parents on .

See also the Working Families factsheet on childminders.

Nannies and Mother’s Helps

Nannies look after children in a home setting and can be employed on a daily or live-in basis. Having your child cared for in your own home has some obvious advantages. It is a familiar environment for the child and one that you can control. It also saves you having to deliver and collect your child at the beginning and end of a working day, which increases your working time and flexibility.

Since nannies and mother’s helps are not regulated, the onus is entirely on you to carry out all the relevant checks, choose judiciously and, ultimately, to create a successful working partnership. The burden of tax and National Insurance liabilities will also fall on your shoulders. However, in return, you can have a tailor-made carer for your child or children who can accommodate your family’s specific needs.

The price tag for this option is high, with annual salaries starting at Ј15,000 in rural areas and climbing to Ј25,000 in central London. Nanny-shares, where a nanny divides her time between two families or looks after the children of more than one family at the same time, are an effective way of reducing the costs. If more than two families are involved, the nanny will need to be registered by the local authority.

ChildcareLink’s Choosing a Nanny provides a simple introduction to the subject. The Department for Education and Skills has produced a comprehensive four-part guide called Need a Nanny? which covers every aspect of childcare recruitment, including creating a job description, advertising, interviewing and advice on how to make it work once you have made your choice. The factfile section deals with all the technicalities. See also the Recruitment & Employment Confederation page on the role of a nanny and the Working Families factsheet on nannies.

Mother’s helps do not have qualifications in childcare but can be very useful to a mother of slightly older children who attend nursery or school, as they usually provide help with school runs and practical tasks, such as shopping, cooking, washing and ironing, as well as spells of childcare. Mother’s helps can also be a valuable extra pair of hands after the birth of a child. Their wages are at the lower end of the nanny scale.

Doulas (from the Greek word meaning ‘handmaiden’) are an American childcare concept that has been gaining popularity in the UK over the last couple of years. Although some have childcare or midwifery experience, the only prerequisite for doulas is that they should have had children themselves. Doulas are hired on an hourly basis to meet the diverse needs of a mother of a new baby and may even accompany a woman through labour. On average, postnatal fees are Ј10-Ј15 per hour. See the Doula UK site for more information.

Maternity nurses or nannies are either qualified nurses, midwives or nursery nurses who are employed for six to eight weeks after the birth of a baby. They work 24-hour shifts for six day periods and are able to provide total care for a newborn and whatever level of support and advice the mother may need. Rates may range from Ј300 to Ј750 gross per week.

Au Pairs

If you have a spare room and children of school age, an au pair may be one of the least costly childcare options – around Ј40 per week. Although au pairs are not generally recommended for sole charge of children under three, they can help with after school care, light household tasks and babysitting in the evening.

The Home Office definition of an au pair is a single person aged from 17 to 27 who has come to the United Kingdom to study English. Au pairs can live for up to two years as a member of an English-speaking family and help in the home for a maximum of five hours per day, with at least two full days off per week. An au pair can move to a new host family but cannot take paid employment outside the home. 

The International Au Pair Agency has worked to establish guidelines and standards for the employment of au pairs. The page of FAQs on the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) website, discussed below, answers the most common queries about au pairs; see also the Working Families factsheet on au pairs.

THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Once you have decided what sort of childcare you need, try to allow as much time as possible to find it. It is also worth pursuing several lines of enquiry at the same time, i.e. put the word round your local network, advertise in relevant magazines or local papers, and sign up with childcare agencies.

REC (Recruitment and Employment Confederation) compiles an alphabetical directory of member nanny and au pair agencies who adhere to the new voluntary code of practice.
36 - 38 Mortimer Street
London W1W 7RG
Telephone:

The International Au Pair Association holds an approved list of au pair agencies which covers the whole of the UK.

Doula UK
Telephone:

Best Bear is an independent service listing recommended childcare agencies throughout the UK. Best Bear’s guide to good childcare is the result of its unique nationwide survey of over one thousand childcare agencies; they list only recommended agencies. You can find au pairs, nannies, maternity nurses and babysitters through vetted agencies on the site; you will also find information and advice for parents and childcarers and a number of childcare search facilities.

Nursery World
A weekly print and online UK-wide publication for childcare professionals in which families can advertise.
Telephone:
E-mail: advertising

The Lady
A weekly publication known for domestic help ads. Nationwide. You can now submit classified ads online.
Telephone:
E-mail: classified.ads

TNT 
Good place to advertise for a versatile nanny/mother’s help in the Australasian mold; best for London and suburbs. You can place an ad online.
Telephone:
E-mail: classyads

The Register 
Childcare listings magazine for London and outlying areas; strong in part-time care and matching nanny-shares.
Telephone:

Quality Control & Safety Checks

It is better to play safe when it comes to checking the suitability of a person applying to work with children. In addition to following up at least two references – preferably on the phone – you should check the status of all qualifications to make sure that they are valid and that the applicant has the training and expertise required to do the job you are asking. Parents can even ask for proof that the applicant has a clean criminal record.

Suitable childcare qualifications for nannies include:

·        A Diploma in Childcare and Education (formerly Nursery Nursing) issued by CACHE (Council for Awards in Children’s Care and Education) 

·        A NVQ (National Vocational Qualification) Level 3 (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) or an SVQ (Scotland) in Early Years Care and Education 

·        A relevant BTEC Certificate or Diploma 

Visit the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) website for information on the framework for national childcare training and qualifications or contact the Early Years National Training Organisation ).

CACHE 
Telephone:

EDEXCEL (for BTEC qualifications)
Telephone:

QCA 
Telephone:

National Association for Maternal and Child Welfare (NAMCW)
Telephone:

The National Academic Recognition Information Centre (NARIC) provides details of qualifications from other countries.
Telephone:

Professional Association of Nursery Nurses (PANN)
Part of the Professional Association of Teachers, PANN represent nursery nurses in schools, private and local authority day nurseries and nannies working in family homes. PANN is committed to the best possible practice in childcare – see Code of Practice – and to resolving disputes wherever possible.
Telephone:

Potential employers in England and Wales now have access to criminal records information via the Home Office’s Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). They may ask a candidate to obtain a ‘certificate of disclosure’ from the CRB which will reveal the state of their criminal record and their suitability for a childcare position. See the Disclosure service website for more information. The CRB Information Line is .

If you are interested in employing someone in Scotland with work experience in England and/or Wales, this is still the office to contact. If the candidate you are considering has work experience in Scotland, you should apply to the Scottish Criminal Record Office - you can apply for disclosures on the Disclosure Scotland website (Disclosure Scotland helpline: ). In Northern Ireland, contact the Police Service of Northern Ireland for guidance.

The DTI Employment Agency Standards helpline provides a free and confidential complaints service about agency conduct and will investigate any complaints made by families or nannies. The DTI Employment Agency Standards helpline can be reached on .

Payroll and Tax Guidance

Nannies and mother’s helps are subject to National Minimum Wage regulations. The main category, covering employees over 22 years of age, is Ј4.85 per hour, as of 1 October 2004. For workers aged 18-21 inclusive, the minimum wage is Ј4.10 per hour, as of 1 October 2004. Contact the DTI National Minimum Wage Helpline on if you have any questions. 

Call the Inland Revenue Employers Helpline for new employers, for established employers) for guidance about tax and National Insurance contributions or contact the Employers Control Section of your local PAYE tax office for a Simplified Deduction Scheme pack. Penalty fines apply for each day that you fail to comply. 

Nannytax will advise you on your tax and National Insurance obligations and provide a payroll service in return for an annual subscription - see their advice for employers of nannies.

CHILDCARE OUTSIDE THE HOME

Many parents choose to have their child cared for in a safe, stimulating and sociable external environment while they are working. Centre-based childcare comes in many different guises and can start as young as three months and carry on until children reach their teens. 

The guidelines set out in the Care Standards Act for childcare staffing ratios outside domestic premises are one adult for every eight children aged between three and seven, and one adult for every four children between two and three. With children under two, the ratio increases to one adult for every three children. Each child is assigned a ‘keyworker’ who has responsibility for the welfare of that child and for communicating with the parent(s).

Subsidised schemes and places, sliding fee scales and nursery education grants for three and four year-olds are all important steps towards bringing childcare within reach of the average purse. Employers are also being slowly persuaded of the advantages of setting up childcare facilities on site or close to the workplace and making some contribution towards the cost. Any centre that takes in children under the age of eight is subject to annual inspection and regulation by OFSTED. This means they may be eligible for the childcare element of the Working Tax Credit.

Day Nurseries

There is enormous variety within this category. Privately-run and workplace nurseries are usuallydaily between 8am and 6pm all year round except public holidays, and can offer part or full-time care. Theng times for local authority or other community-based nurseries are generally in line with the school day. At the top end of the scale, fees can be expensive – around Ј200 per week for a full-time place in a private day nursery. Community nurseries represent a more affordable option. Local authorities are obliged to give priority to children/families in need and may offer heavily subsidised or free daycare in certain circumstances. 

When you are looking for a nursery for your child, you need to satisfy yourself that the atmosphere, facilities and the nursery’s approach meet your own standards and requirements before you make a commitment. ChildcareLink’s Choosing a Nursery will help you to know what to look out for. You are also entitled to ask to see a of the nursery’s latest inspection report.

The ChildcareLink information line and map search can give you details of day nurseries in a specified area. Type in your full home postcode or click on an area of the map. Freephone:

The charity Working Families explains the different types of nursery provision available in its Nurseries and Nursery Classes factsheet.

The National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) is a professional organisation which actively promotes quality daycare in the private sector. NDNA also offers advice on good practice, develops training and support programmes and reviews registration and inspection procedures. Its website provides a list of helpful pointers to consider if you are looking for a day nursery and a database which includes member nurseries, from the smallest nursery to the largest chains, in England, Wales and Scotland. NDNA’s nationally recognised ‘Quality Counts’ accreditation scheme is supported by the DfES. Telephone:

Scottish Independent Nurseries Association (SINA)
Telephone: .

The Association of Quality Nurseries for Scotland (AQNS) represents private day nurseries and a growing number of playgroups in N. E. Scotland. Full membership is only granted to providers who practice National Care Standards as part of a quality assurance programme. Telephone: .

Nursery Classes And Schools

Nursery classes are attached to primary and independent schools and take children between the ages of three and five. Nursery schools are the independent equivalent and may start children at two and a half. They are registered and inspected in the same way as schools and are staffed by trained teachers. Both keep school hours and terms. There are often waiting lists for popular nurseries, so it is worth putting your child’s name down in good time to avoid disappointment. 

The usual pattern is for a child to attend for two or three half days to begin with and work up to five. Some extend the duration of their visits as they approach compulsory school age to the length of a normal school day. This is just one way in which nursery prepares children for the next stage.

With the introduction of nursery education grants, free part-time nursery places are now available to all four year olds for the three terms before they are five, and for some three year olds. The Government plans to extend provision to all three year olds by September 2004. The strategy is being implemented by the Early Years Development and Childcare Plan within each local authority and provision for three year olds varies from area to area. There has been an increase in the number of nursery units in primary schools in order to meet these targets.

ChildcareLink produces a simple guide to Choosing a Nursery Class or Nursery School. To find out about the nursery schools and classes in your area, contact their information line (freephone ) or use the ChildcareLink map search. Type in your full home postcode or click on an area of the map.

You can read OFSTED reports of private/state nursery schools and nursery units in primary schools online.

The Independent Schools Council Information Service (ISCis) on is a reliable source of information about independent schools with nursery classes.

The Montessori approach to early education has provided parents with an alternative model of daycare. Developed at the beginning of the last century by Maria Montessori, the main objectives are to foster confidence, independence, initiative and concentration by creating an environment in which children can engage in the activities that interest them at a pace that suits their stage of development. Equipment and apparatus are accessible, child-sized and appealing, children are taught practical and social skills in an atmosphere that is orderly, calm and positive. The Steiner ideal for early years education also concentrates more on developing skills and faculties needed for life rather than delivering information.

Montessori Education (UK)
The National body representing the Montessori viewpoint, they hold a list of Montessori schools in England and a summary of the key features of the Montessori approach.
Telephone:

Montessori Centre International 
This organisation incorporates the London Montessori Centre and Montessori St. Nicholas Training College. Read their Beginner’s guide to a Montessori classroom and consult their UK-wide list of Montessori schools, pre-schools and nurseries.
Telephone:

Steiner Waldorf Schools Fellowship 
The fellowship is the contact for information about their kindergartens in the UK and Ireland or read about the Steiner philosophy of education.
Telephone:

Pre-School Groups

Playgroups, playschools, parent and toddler groups, creches and under fives groups all belong in this category. Sessions are usually attended by up to 20 under school-aged children for two to three hours a day on one to five days a week during school terms. They generally make a minimal charge of around Ј2.50 per session. Pre-school groups, which are often managed by volunteer parents, provide a valuable local support network for mothers and informal/home-based carers, as well as a range of play-centred activities geared to the age and needs of the developing child. There are some full daycare facilities included within this bracket.

The Government’s Sure Start Scheme made Ј452 million available to improve support and health/education facilities for families of 0-3 year olds, with a focus on deprived areas. There are 524 schemes already in operation as of 2004.

ChildcareLink produce a simple guide to Choosing a Pre-School Playgroup. To find out about the pre-school groups operating in your area, contact their information line (freephone ) or use the ChildcareLink map search.

The Pre-School Learning Alliance is a national educational charity and umbrella body linking 15,000 community-based pre-schools – sessional groups, parent/toddler groups, under fives, full daycare groups - providing places for 500,000 children.
Telephone:

The Playgroup Network is a national voluntary organisation supporting playgroups and parent and toddler groups with training and information to allow them to provide for the needs of their children and families through community groups.
Telephone:

The Scottish Pre-school Play Association holds information about under-fives childcare services throughout Scotland. Contact memberships services for details of local facilities.
Telephone:

Highland Pre-School Services (HPS) are early years advisors/trainers feeding information to a network of early years and childcare staff. HPS hold a register of 280 member groups, inspected and approved by councils. They also issue grants for special needs children which pays for one-to-one carers.
Telephone:

Wales Pre-school Playgroups Association is an umbrella body with over 1,000 member groups, offering offers training and support.
Telephone:

Northern Ireland Pre-school Play Association
NIPPA is an umbrella body for early years organisations in Northern Ireland with around 900 member groups including playgroups, daycare centres, parent & toddler groups and other early years groups. They maintain a database which covers most of the provisionto parents in the province.
Telephone:

MENCAP (Royal Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults) run voluntary playschemes after school and on Saturdays for children from two and a half years. See their section on Community Support Services to find contacts for schemes operating in your area.

Out Of School Childcare

As part of its National Childcare Strategy, the Government has undertaken to provide high quality affordable childcare for every child in its own community over the next few years. The provision of out of school childcare places is central to this commitment. Out of school childcare facilities for primary age children are of great assistance to working parents of school-age children. These include pre-school ‘breakfast’ and after-school clubs and holiday playschemes.

ChildcareLink produces a simple guide to Choosing an Out of School Service.

To find out about the out of school childcare provision in your area, contact their information line (freephone ) or use the ChildcareLink map search. Local schools and LEAs should also hold up-to-date lists.

4Children (formerly Kids' Clubs Network) (KCN)
4Children is the national charity for out of school childcare in the UK. They have worked closely with the Government, employers and parents to achieve the goal of providing affordable, child-centred childcare for children of school age. They were also involved in compiling the Childcare Commission Report, a summary of recommendations emerging from the first UK childcare think-tank. 4Children represents a network of more than 8,000 kids’ clubs, offering children between the ages of four and fourteen a safe and stimulating place to go outside school hours and during the holidays. They are committed to creating a welcoming environment for children with special needs.

Call the 4Children Information Line ) for advice and support on all aspects of out of school care or if you are interested in setting up a scheme in your area.

The Scottish Out of School Care Network is Scotland’s lead representative body for school-aged childcare. It provides information, advice and membership services to individuals, organisations and local networks.

MENCAP (Royal Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults)
Call their headquarters ) for information about junior Gateway Clubs run for children between eight and 14 years.

Childcare Search

All of the information here is included in more detail in the ‘Childcare Outside the Home’ section above.

ChildcareLink

A government-backed site with an online database of day nurseries, nursery schools & classes, childminders, playgroups and out of school childcare in England, Wales and Scotland.  Each search will pull up contact numbers for local Childcare Information Services, which you can ring for comprehensive listings. Type in your full home postcode or choose an area on the map, then click on ‘Search for Childcare’.