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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:

• Trained and experienced staff, ready to learn and respond to your child's individual needs.
• Busy, but relaxed, children who seem happy and purposeful.
• Safe and clean premises - welcoming and friendly with outside play space.
• Cultural sensitivity and responsiveness to children's home life.
• A staff team and group of children who reflect local ethnic and cultural groups.
• Fun activities planned each day - childminders, nurseries and out-of-school clubs all need to plan their days with children's interests and enthusiasms in mind. Exercise and quiet times to relax are important.
• A big welcome for you and your child.

Visiting childcare settings - what to ask:

• What is the ratio of staff to children? How many children do you care for?
• What qualifications and/or experience do you have?
• What are the daily routines and how can you incorporate my child's and other children's routines?
• Do you operate a key worker scheme (whereby one member of staff has main responsibility for your child)?
• How will you keep me informed of my child's progress and news from the nursery/childminder/out-of-school club?
• What are your policies on discipline and how do you manage children's behaviour?
• Do you provide meals, snacks, nappies etc or will I need to provide them?
• Where can my child sleep or rest?
• How will you contact me in an emergency?
• Can I see a copy of your registration certificates and inspection reports?

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:

• Friends - check a stable group of children attend so your children can have fun with friends.
• Food - check mealtimes are relaxed and fun and ask if children can help themselves to drinks and snacks.
• Fun outside - check the outside area is well planned, spacious and safe - children love playing outside.
• Finding out - make sure there is plenty of opportunity for children to learn new things with varied, carefully planned things to do.
• Feeling safe and loved - check that the staff are able to respond to individual children's needs, to comfort and encourage them and to keep them safe.

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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