Children First 2006 - Choosing childcare

Choosing childcare

Written by Gill Rudkin, Marketing Officer, Pre-school Learning Alliance

Leaving your child in childcare for the first time can be an anxious time for many parents. However, by looking at your options and doing some research, you can help take the worry out of choosing the right childcare to suit your needs. Gill Rudkin explains how.

Recent research has shown that good quality childcare helps children to develop cognitively, socially and emotionally. All types of childcare provision aim to provide a safe and caring environment where babies and young children under five years old can learn and grow. Parents have a wide range of choices available from full nursery daycare and pre-school settings to parent and toddler groups as well as childminders. Choosing the most appropriate kind of early years care and education is therefore a big step for you and your child. Every child and family is different, so the type of setting you choose will depend on your own family circumstances and the specific needs of your child. Think carefully about your options and then decide what’s best for you.

Making the decision

Choosing the right kind of childcare for your child can be a very difficult decision. The move to non-parental care may cause you stress and anxiety, leaving you feeling unsure and worried about the decision you have made for your child. However, a diverse range of early years settings are open to young children, depending on their developmental needs and the requirements of your family. For example, if you choose to go to a parent and toddler group, you will be able to stay and play with your child and meet other parents with their children. Before making any decisions about childcare arrangements, consider all the different types of care that are available.

What are your options?

Parent and toddler groups
Parent and toddler groups (also know as “Stay and Play”) are usually for children aged nine months to two-and-a-half years old. These groups give you the chance to meet other parents in an informal atmosphere. They enable your child to play with other children and experience a wide range of play activities. You can stay with your child during the session. The groups are often run by parents for parents, and usually meet once or twice a week.

Day nurseries
Day nurseries are for children from six weeks old until school age and offer full-time or part-time care. They may be run by the council, members of the community, your workplace or privately. Day nurseries are usually open 8.00am–7.00pm on weekdays and primarily cater for the needs of working parents.
The Pre-school Learning Alliance runs a selection of day nurseries in England through the government’s Neighbourhood Nurseries Initiative. The Alliance has a strong tradition of encouraging children’s learning through play. Our members provide a broad range of challenging and stimulating play activities, both indoors and outdoors, that promote children’s overall development.

Childminders
Childminders are based in their own homes and provide childcare for small groups of children. They are usually self-employed and decide which hours they work.

Pre-schools
Pre-schools and playgroups are usually organised by community or voluntary groups. They offer care for specific sessions, such as 9.30am to 12.30pm, and many have extra services such as breakfast clubs, lunch clubs and holiday play schemes.

How to choose a setting

The first step is to find out what’s available in your local area. You can contact the Information Service team at the Pre-school Learning Alliance for details of your local Children’s Information Service – email: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or tel: 020 7697 2500. You can also visit www. childcarelink.gov.uk and type in your postcode to find childcare providers in your area.

Make a shortlist of two or three settings and then plan a visit to each. The staff should be happy to show you around and discuss their policies with you. Most early years providers have procedures in place that enable parents to spend a day or two accessing and using the setting to see if it is appriopriate for their child, and to see whether the child enjoys the setting.

Before you visit, it’s worth checking the setting’s Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education) report. Childcare providers must be registered with Ofsted, who regularly inspect the settings to make sure that they meet 14 national standards covering health and safety, equipment and quality of care. Go to www.ofsted.gov.uk for reports on how specific childcare providers meet the standards. The reports give details of the quality of care available at each setting and any improvements that are needed.

Visiting the setting

Here’s a checklist to use when you visit the setting:

What training and experience do the carers have?
Does the setting feel welcoming and nurturing?
Is there enough space, including an outdoor play area?
Are parents welcomed and given information?
Are staff joining in and showing affection to the children?
Are the children happy and absorbed in activities?
Is a range of activities available?
What happens in case of accidents and emergencies?
Are the toilets and basins clean and child-sized?
Is the equipment of a high standard?
Do displays show different cultures in a positive way?
Are facilities for changing nappies and potty training available?
Are the meals and snacks healthy and nutritious?
Has the setting achieved a quality assurance certificate? (See the article on page 85.)

Next steps

Once you have chosen the type of childcare most suitable for your family, it will soon be time to make the big step! Your child will need time to settle in as they get to know the staff and other children, and adjust to the new routine. You will be encouraged to stay with your child at first so that they can gradually be introduced to the group’s activities. By working closely with the staff, you can help your child to be comfortable, happy and secure.

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