Choosing childcare
Advice and support
Choosing childcare and early education is a big step for you and your child. You can find out about the childcare and early education services in your area by using a new and improved search tool for finding and researching schools, childcare and nurseries, which has recently been launched.
The new service - which now also provides Ofsted reports, maps and achievement tables - will soon be fully available on ParentsCentre. In the meantime, you can find it on the Parents section of Directgov.
As this is an external website, the link below will open in a new window which you will need to close to return to ParentsCentre.
Search for schools, childcare and
nurseries
[External Site]
There are lots of differences between the various types of
childcare, early education or pre-school services, and also between individual
childminders, nurseries, nursery classes or out-of-school clubs. Try and give
yourself enough time to visit several possible options in your area to get a
good idea of what could suit your child. Don't forget that you are the
expert on your child and should trust your feelings.
It can be a good idea to take your child with you to see how staff talk to
them. Try to go when children are there so you can see if they are calm, happy
and busy. Here are some suggested questions to ask when you visit. Add your own
questions as well:
- how long have you been working with children?
- have you undertaken any training for your job? Any qualifications?
- do you enjoy being with children and why?
- can I look around the building to see the rooms and outside play space? If there is no outside playspace how will you make sure my child gets the chance to play outside?
- where will my child rest?
- what kind of food and drink will you give?
- what will my child do all day?
- how do you encourage good behaviour?
- will my child be with a regular group of children? How old are they? How will their timetable fit in with my child?
- how will you make sure I know how my child is getting on?
Top 10 quality pointers
When you visit possible childcare options, look for these quality
pointers. You could add your own as well.
- are the children calm, safe and happy?
- do children play and talk together?
- are the staff listening to children and answering them carefully?
- are the staff friendly and proud of their work?
- are the staff joining in with what the children are doing?
- are there lots of fun activities planned to help children learn and play? Can children plan some of these themselves?
- are there plenty of clean toys and equipment for children to use?
- are the premises clean, well-kept and safe for children with a fun outside play area (or will children go to parks and other places regularly)?
- do parents have plenty of chances to say what they want for their children?
- if there are other things you want to know, do not be afraid to ask. Good childcare staff expect you to ask questions and will be happy to answer them
Top tips
Always take up references. You could ask for names of other parents to
talk to about your chosen service. Listen to your child and find out more if he
or she seems unhappy. Always trust your own feelings about childcare - you know
your child best.
Next Steps
 | Sometimes speaking to parents and carers who have experienced the same
issues and problems as you can be a great way to get valuable advice and
information. Read, respond or ask a question in the |
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 | Benefit from the advice and tips given by our experts by reading or asking a
question in the |
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Making childcare choices
(Parent Know How leaflet)
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