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Top childcare tips

Good quality, affordable and accessible childcare is invaluable and beneficial to children's development. However, finding and using childcare can be a struggle for some parents. Here are our tips to help you to take advantage of childcare services.

Benefit from the outcomes of childcare.

Childcare can be very beneficial for both children and parents. It can help children to develop more effectively, giving them a better start in life, and can open up opportunities for parents and carers allowing them to work, train or study. Make sure you're not missing out!

Find out about local childcare.

Contact your local Family Information Service (FIS) to find out about registered childcare in your area. There is a FIS in each local authority area and their function is to provide information to parents, carers and others about local childcare and children's services. For contact details of your local FIS, contact ChildcareLink on 0800 234 6346, where you will be redirected to your local service.

Get help with childcare costs.

Make sure you are getting all the financial assistance available to you to help you pay for your childcare costs. If you are a working parent you may get help through Working Tax Credit or employer-supported childcare, or if you are studying there may be help available from your college or training provider. Call our Information Line or see our Paying for childcare website for information.

Think about your childcare needs during holidays.

You may find that you need to use additional childcare during the holiday times, such as the long summer break, especially if you have school-aged children. With the summer holidays approaching, if you want to use a holiday playscheme make sure you look into these as soon as you can, as places can often get booked up quickly. Your local Family Informaion Service (see above) will have details of local schemes.

Remember that your childcare costs may alter through the year.

If you are claiming Working Tax Credit and your childcare costs change by £10 or more per week for at least 4 weeks in a row, your tax credit award is likely to change. Any changes to your childcare costs - or other circumstances that affect your Tax Credits claim, for example, income - should be reported to the Tax Credit office within 30 days to avoid overpayments of Tax Credits. Contact the Tax Credit Helpline on 0845 300 3900.

Don't miss out on free childcare.

If your child is three- or four-years old, they are eligible for a free part-time early years place of at least 12.5 hours per week. In some areas, certain two-year olds are also entitled to free early years places. To find out about places and to see if you live in a pilot area, contact your local Family Information Service (see above).

Share the cost.

Some parents share childcare with family members or friends. This applies especially to parents who use nannies, which can be an expensive form of childcare. But remember, you can only claim help with childcare costs if your nanny is registered on the new Voluntary Ofsted Childcare Register, see www.ofsted.gov.uk for information. 

Make sure it is suitable.

It is important that the childcare you choose meets your own, and your children's, needs. For an idea of the type of questions you should think of asking when visiting potential childcare providers, request a free copy of the the 'Essential guide to childcare for you 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.

For more information about ordering or to download your copy go to www.surestart.gov.uk/aboutsurestart/parents/lookingforchildcare
You can also call our Information Line on 0845 872 6251 to discuss your childcare options.

Start looking early!

Many parents are able to find suitable childcare as soon as they need it, but for others it may take several months of searching before you can find somewhere that accommodates both your own and your child's needs. Give yourself enough time to research, seek advice from other parents and check registration certificates and references.

Time to settle in.

Your child may take some time to settle into any new childcare setting that you start them in, so allow them time to adjust to their new surroundings, especially if this is their first time in childcare. Remember that most childcarers, such as childminders, will offer a ‘settling in period', where you have an agreed length of time to assess whether the setting is the right one for your child and that they are happy there.

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