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Are you a parent of a disabled child? Do you find it difficult to find suitable childcare?





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Finding and choosing childcare

Finding local childcare

Family Information Services (FIS)

 There is a Family Information Service in every local authority area. Sometimes this will be attached to the local authority, but could also be an individual organisation.
Your local Family Information Service is the best place to get information on registered childcare providers who operate in your area. They hold lists of registered childminders, nurseries, out-of-school and holiday clubs, pre-school/playgroups and children's leisure activities. Some Family Information Services may also be able to provide you with information about unregistered childcare, such as nannies or parent and toddler groups.
For contact details of your local Family Information Service, contact ChildcareLink on 0800 234 6346 or see their website www.childcarelink.gov.uk

Talk to other parents

Other parents' experiences of a childcare provider can be very useful. However, remember what works for one family, may not work for another. Also, although personal recommendations are helpful, you should always take up references.

Community noticeboards

You may find details of local childcare providers on noticeboards at local schools, community centres, libraries, or shops. Always remember to check references!

Looking for nannies

If you're looking for a nanny your local telephone directory should have listings of nanny agencies.  Magazines such as Nursery World and The Lady, available from most newsagents, also hold details of nanny agencies and individual nannies looking for work. See Finding and choosing nannies for further information.

 

Choosing a suitable childcare provider

Most parents wonder what to look out for when they start looking for childcare. Here are some of our tips.

Five steps to choosing childcare:

1. Draw up a shortlist using information from your local Family Information Service - check the hours that they can provide childcare, the hourly/daily/weekly cost and if they have places available for your child.

2. Visit several settings and ask questions about the childcare provided(see below).

3. Make the big decision - it might help to take a friend and/or your child on the visits to help you decide.

4. Take up references from other parents who have used that service.

5. Book your child's place (you may need to pay a retainer fee to keep the place open until your child starts) and arrange details like hours, start date, who is allowed to pick up your child.

Visiting childcare settings - what to look for:

Visiting childcare settings - what to ask:

These are just some of the questions you should ask, see our list of questions for more ideas and also think about the things that matter to you and make sure you ask about them.

Take up references

We recommend that you take up at least two references. Childcare providers should be happy to give you names of other parents to speak to about the service they provide.

Children's views

What will your child enjoy? These are the things children said were most important when Daycare Trust visited nurseries and asked children for their views:

For more information see Daycare Trust's report, 'Listening to children about childcare'.

For more information about choosing childcare, request a free copy of the the 'Essential guide to childcare for your and your family' series from the Department for Children, Schools and Families. There are different versions available for 0-5 year olds, 5-11 year olds and 11-16 year olds.
To order or download your copy go to http://www.surestart.gov.uk/aboutsurestart/parents/lookingforchildcare/ 

 

 

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