Registered childminders work in their own homes caring for other people’s children. They normally work on a self-employed basis and care for a small number of children in their home and generally cater for a range of ages.
Key points:
✅ Can be very flexible. Hours will vary however most will do at least 7.30am-6pm.
✅ Many can do school drop off and pick up
✅ Childcare is in a home setting familiar to young children
✅ Small numbers of children on any one day
✅ Your child can enjoy real-life and local experiences such as a trip to the local park or library
Good to know:
💜 All childminders are regulated and inspected by Ofsted.
What do Mumblers think?
“Our childminder was one of the best decisions we ever made when it came to childcare. Our daughters had a home from home experience with someone who had similar values and rules to us and loved our children like her own. Our childminder was awesome and my daughters (particularly my youngest) thrived with our amazing childminder.”
Day nurseries care for and educate children from 3 months to 5 years old. You will generally have to pay monthly for the service and most nurseries are private businesses, either small standalone or part of a franchise or larger chain.
As the range of ages of the children attending nurseries is quite wide, there could be up to four different carer to child ratios in operation at the nursery.
Children from birth to 2 – 1:3
2 year-olds – 1:4
3 and over – 1:13 where a person with Qualified Teacher Status, Early Years Professional Status or Early Years Teacher status is working directly with children, or 1:8 where they are not.
Key points:
✅ Day nurseries operate all year round, usually with the exception of bank holidays
✅ Generally open from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm, but some are open longer hours
✅ Look after and educate children from 3 months to 5 years
✅ Although open all week, many offer the option of a range of half and full days that can be mixed and matched to meet the needs of the family
✅ Many day nurseries will provide breakfast, lunch and tea, the cost of which is normally included in their fees.
Good to know:
💜 All nurseries are regulated and inspected by Ofsted.
What do Mumblers think?
“My son loves nursery and we are happy with it too. They have such a good relationship with parents and are always doing great activities with the little ones.”
These carers are not necessarily OFSTED registered and will look after your children in your own home. Prices and experience vary greatly so do your research and get recommendations from people that you know well.
Pre-schools generally care for children aged 2 to 5 and often only operate in term-time. In most cases, they offer funded places for 3 and 4-year-olds.
Key points:
✅ You can usually pay for top-up sessions if you need more than the funded sessions
✅ Often based in community venues such as churches or village halls
✅ Many pre-schools and playgroups are run by voluntary committees and many ask that parents get involved in the life of the setting
✅ Pre-schools are unlikely to provide breakfast or lunch, or to cover the cost nappies
Good to know:
💜 All pre-schools are regulated and inspected by Ofsted.
What do Mumblers think?
“I put my little boy in pre-school a few months before his 3rd birthday and I think it really has helped him to be more confident and is preparing him well for school and making friends that will be in his class.”
When your child has started school, you might still need childcare for before, after, and during the school holidays.
There are lots of options from breakfast and after-school clubs within schools themselves and many private opinions.
Top tips for choosing childcare options⭐️ Do your research first – you’ve started in the right place by reading this blog!
⭐️ Research the settings online and find out what other parents think of them
⭐️ Visit the settings you are interested in – ideally with your child
⭐️ Do not be afraid to ask questions
⭐️ Talk to your friends, perhaps those with older children to find out what they did and what experiences they had
⭐️ Ask as many questions as you want in the Mumbler Facebook Chat Group – everyone there will be happy to help you!
Check what help you could get towards approved child care with this calculator on Gov.uk.
All 3 to 4-year-olds in England can get 570 free hours per year. It’s usually taken as 15 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year, but you can choose to take fewer hours over more weeks, for example. Some 3 to 4-year-olds are eligible for 30 hours free childcare a week. Find out how to apply and get a code for 30 hours of free childcare if your child is 3-4 on Gov.uk.
Offering outdoor childcare services from term time pre-school for 3 to 4 year olds 9.30am to 2.30pm and Holiday clubs for 3 to 12 year olds 8.30am to 3.30pm.
Click here for more info muddymunchkins.co.uk or follow the Muddy Munchkins Facebook Page.
8am to 6pm all year around. Poole offers a range of services for ages 2 – 14 years; pre-school/nursery, forest nursery, breakfast, after school and holiday clubs.
Click here for more info sunbeamsdaycare.co.uk or follow the Sunbeams Poole and Buddies Poole Facebook Pages.
Disclaimer: All information is correct at the time of publication (May 2023). All information applies to England only, regulations can differ in Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland.
