Mumszone - A site for all parents

Discussion Forum

Take a look in our forum to see what everyone is talking about today! If you would like somewhere to get advice or just have a general chat then why not join us.

Work from Home

Working from home? Visit the Work from Home Section on our Forum where you will be able to get advice and talk to others in a similar position.

Home

Read our Articles

Your Childcare Options

Whether you are returning to work or looking for a playgroup for your 2 year old, finding the right childcare can be stressful and confusing. Here we look at the various options open to you and in the next issue we will consider how to find the perfect provider for your child.

Day Nursery

Private nurseries (including those offered by employers) will provide care for young babies right through to 5 years old and children will usually be divided into groups according to their age. Some nurseries will offer free, part-time early education or pre-school places for children aged three and four.

Usual opening hours are 8am-6pm and most will only close for a few weeks each year, meaning they are suitable for working families.

A nursery should provide a wide range of stimulating activities for all the children in its care and have strict child to carer ratios. They are registered with your local City Council who are responsible for checks on the staff and premises.

Childminder

Registered childminders look after children in their own home. Some parents prefer the “home” environment and the fact that good childminders will regularly take children to toddler groups, the park and other outings.

Hours are by arrangement but most childminders will work between 8am and 6pm. In Bristol, the going rate is around £3.00 per hour though popular or experienced childminders may charge more.

All childminders must be registered with OFSTED, who will decide how many children they can look after and will inspect them at least annually.

Nanny

Nannies will work in your own home so your child will be in familiar surroundings. Again, a nanny should provide lots of stimulation and outings for their children but do tend to cost more. Remember, you will also be responsible for paying their tax and National Insurance.

However you find your nanny, remember to personally check at least two references.

Nannies can live in or out and are often prepared to be flexible about hours and will take care of the child’s cooking and washing - a real bonus if both parents have to work long hours.

With nannies costing an average of £230 per week, more families are sharing nannies - this can help to keep the costs down but do make sure that it is very clear who is responsible for which costs and how the nanny’s time will be divided.

Playgroup

Playgroups, often called pre-schools or play schools, allow young children to play and learn in small groups.

They are registered with the local authority and inspected every year. Some pre-schools provide free early education and are registered and inspected by OFSTED.

Most children will be aged 3 and 4 but some will have places for 2 year olds as well. Costs will vary between £3-£5 per session.

They often have a community spirit and parents frequently help the staff out. Sessions are normally for 2 1/2 hours (few will be open all day), so aren’t suited to families who require full time childcare.

Nursery School or Class

These offer pre-school learing and play opportunities for children aged 3-5. They are normally open during school hours and terms so you will need to arrange other cover if you work full-time.

State nursery schools are free schools for pre-school children (aged 3 and 4) and must have at least one qualified staff member for each class of 20-26 children. You’ll need to arrange extra childcare if you work full-time.

Some private nursery schools take children from 2 and are often open longer than their state counterparts, from 8am to 6pm all year round, so you may not need to arrange wrap around cover. The costs can be high but partly subsidised places maybe available.

Certain state and independent schools also offer nursery classes for 3 and 4 year olds which can be a good choice if you want your child to attend that school anyway.

Relative Care

For many parents, the cost of full-time childcare is just too much, so they rely upon their family to look after their children.

This could be an informal arrangement, eg, granny picks the kids up from school and takes them home for an hour before mum finishes work. Payment is in kind: the chance to spend time with the grandchildren or maybe help with the heavy chores in the garden.

Other arrangements are more formal, with set hours and payment.

Either way, this form of childcare can have enormous benefits for all: the child continues to be cared for by a member of their family, the parents can relax knowing that their child is in safe hands and the carer is able to develop a deeper relationship with their grandchild/niece etc than would normally be the case.

You may even be able to claim the childcare element of the Working Family Tax Credit, if the carer is willing to become a registered childminder.

Despite all the pluses, there are a few issues to be aware of:

· You will be entering into an employer/employee relationship with a member of your family. Will you both be comfortable with this, e.g. what will you do if they frequently turn up late?

· How will you deal with differences in opinion when it comes to what is best for your child? Your mother may have raised you but would you necessarily do things the way she did?

· How will you cope if your carer is ill? It could be a good idea to have a backup plan just in case.

· Money; always difficult to deal with, so make sure you agree on an hourly rate, that way any over-time can be dealt with fairly. Also, agree a budget for trips and treats during the week.

If have a family member who is happy to look after your child and you can deal with these points, this solution could provide more love and security than other childcare options.

Arabella Greatorex is the owner of www.naturalnursery.co.uk, an online store selling organic and fairly traded products of families.

Free social bookmarking plugins and extensions for Joomla! websites! title=

Daffs
		About the author:

< Prev

Prams	Maclaren	Car Seats
Pushchairs	HighChairs	MaxiCosi

About Us

Kiddicare is now the leading privately owned baby shop in the UK. Established in 1974 in Peterborough Kiddicare have been able to uphold a high level of customer service and deliver discounted nursery supplies with confidence.

Prams

Kiddicare have over 100 different prams to choose from, which are suitable for newborn through to toddlers. For more information read our pram reviews.

Highchairs

Kiddicare stock a range of highchairs which are suitable to use at home or when travelling. For more information read our highchair reviews.

Child Car Seats

Child car seats is a very important purchase for any parent. Kiddicare stocks a vast range of car seats for all age groups to ensure your child is secure in your vehicle. For more information read our child car seat reviews.

Pushchairs

Kiddicare have over 250 different pushchairs to choose from, which are comfortable and easy to set up. For more information read our pushchair reviews.

Maclaren

Kiddicare has an extensive product range of Maclaren pushchairs, car seats and accessories which are suitable for all age ranges. For more information read our Maclaren reviews.

Maxi-Cosi

Kiddicare has an extensive product range of Maxi Cosi car seats, pushchairs and accessories which are suitable for all age ranges. For more information read our Maxi Cosi reviews.

Product Review