When choosing the childcare and education that is
best for you and your child, you need to think about the following
points: 
- Do you need full time or part-time childcare - which days
and hours?
- Do you need childcare all the year round, out of school hours
only or just occasionally?
- Do you want childcare to be near your home or near your
work?
For more information check out the
Families Information Direct website.
The three main choices you have when choosing childcare
are:
- Childminders for children from birth to eight years and
above
- Day nurseries for children from birth to five years
- Out of school and holiday clubs for children of school age
(sometimes called Kids Clubs)
Alternatively you may wish to think about employing a
nanny or approved childcarer.
Day nurseries for children
There are also pre-schools and nursery classes to consider for
children who are three and four years old. They operate on a part
time basis - morning or afternoon sessions.
Childminders
If you need full day care then you may be able to arrange
for a childminder to drop off and collect your child each day and
provide full time care in school holiday periods. This can be
very helpful where you have more than one child and want your
school age and baby/toddler to be cared for together.
Not all childcarers are prepared for their details to be on the
internet so you may also want to call us for advice and up to
date lists of the childcare of your choice.
If you would like further guidance about choosing childcare you
can use our 'one to one' service. A member of our team will
meet with you and talk through your options. If you are a first
time parent and haven't used childcare before you may find this
service helps you to feel more confident about your choice.
If you are having difficulty finding childcare we can assist you
with your search.
