Childcare: Nannies, Nurseries & Childminders 

 

This is probably one of the most important decisions to be made when you're planning to go back to work, particularly if you do not have grandparents nearby who are willing and able to help out. 

Good childcare, like anything else, is always in demand and therefore you should plan early and plan well! 

The knowledge that your child is happy, safe and secure will make your return to work so much easier.
There are several options available to you, childminders, nannies and nurseries, all of which have their positives and negatives; ultimately it will be your personal circumstances which dictate what you need and you will likely change provider as your child gets older.

Before we look at each type of provider here are some points to think about when choosing a provider:

 

Childminders 

They will generally have had some formal childcare education and are likely to be registered with Ofsted and, therefore, be subject to regular assessments.
The assessments check that the childminder will offer a safe environment for your child, balanced meals/snacks and that they will not only play with your child but also be able to provide some informal education as well.
Most childminders operate from their homes and will normally look after their own children while looking after yours; this is usually a positive benefit but you may want to meet their children too to watch how they interact with your child.
Childminders usually work between 8am - 6pm which may help if you plan to work full-time.
The child minder is usually self employed so they take care of their own tax/NI etc. They should provide you with a contract which sets out not only their standard charge but also any extras such as meals, outings etc.
Two good starting points for finding out more about childminders are through the Family Information Service of your local authority and through the National Childminding Association (NCMA).

Nannies & Home Childcarers 

Nannies (or home childcarers) generally work from your home and will/should have some formal qualifications in childcare.
Nannies can work longer hours than childminders and, because they care for your child in your own home, they may offer more continuity and a more secure feeling for your child, particularly for younger children. In general they will take care of every aspect of your child's life while you're at work; cooking for them, tidying their rooms and play rooms, and taking them to activities you have timetabled for them. The full extent of their duties and what you provide, e.g. transport, accomodation, etc should be clearly set out in a contract before they start work for you. Likewise any other duties you'd like included such as general domestic chores and extra babysitting should also be agreed at this time.

If you have the space then a live-in nanny may be ideal, however, it is more common today to employ a home childcarer, essentially a childminder who will operate from your home.

If you are employing a nanny through any agency they will have carried out the appropriate Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks, have references for you, plus copies of their qualifications. In this situation the contract is generally between you and the agency who are the nanny's employer.
If you have found your nanny for yourself you need to arrange for the appropriate checks and references yourself, and, if you are the employer, ensure your contract is thorough, including contracted hours, sick pay entitlement, holiday leave, job specification and additional chores. You will now be responsbile for their tax and National Insurance payments!

Because of the level of service and additional duties you may expect from a nanny it is likely to be one of the most expensive childcare options. If you have a friend or colleague who lives nearby it could be worth considering sharing the services of a nanny or home childcare.

Again, the National Childminding Association (NCMA) has plenty of good advice about nannies.
The government also publishes good guidance about nannies here.

Nurseries 

There is likely to be a good choice of nurseries in your area.
But, not all nurseries offer the same services...
There are two main types of service offered:
Opening hours will vary also; some will be from 8am to 6pm, good if you plan to work full-time, but some may only be 9am to 5pm or perhaps mornings only!
Some nurseries we've found may open from 8am to 6pm but their core day is 9am to 5pm and, therefore, they charge over and above their standard daily rate for 8 - 9am and from 5 - 6pm!

Whatever nursery you consider, here are the essential points to remember:

Finally, it is worth remembering that from approximately 3 years old, your local authority will fund 12.5 hours of pre-school per week.