Early Years Online

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Childcare Options

The childcare options discussed below can all be regulated/inspected in some way by some authorised body.  Notable exceptions from this list are nannies and au pairs as these options are not currently regulated. This does not mean they are any less valid but clearly they form a completely different sector of childcare.

Day Nursery/NurseryKindergarten
Typically:

  • Offers both part-time and/or full day care all year round
  • Registered with local authority and inspected by Ofsted
  • Care for children aged 0 - 8 years
  • Fees charged monthly in advance
  • Privately owned although a small number of local authority run nurseries exist. In addition some larger companies have workplace nurseries

Nursery School
Typically:

  • Offers both part-time and/or full time care, although often 9:00am to 3:30pm term time only
  • May be registered with Social Services and/or inspected by Ofsted, however, please check this carefully as not all Nursery School settings are required to comply with either
  • Care for children aged 3 - 8 years.
  • Fees charged monthly or 'termly' in advance
  • Privately owned although a small number of local authority run nursery schools exist.

Pre-school Group
Typically:

  • Offers sessional care mornings and/or afternoons (i.e. between 2½ and 4 hours), term time only
  • Registered with local authority and inspected by Ofsted
  • Care for children aged 2½ or 3 - 5 years
  • Fees charged weekly in advance
  • Run by school, or privately owned

Playgroup
Typically:

  • Offers sessional care (i.e. 2½ hours or more), all year round
  • Registered with local authority and if providing early years education will be inspected by Ofsted
  • Registered to care for children aged 2 or 3 - 5 years
  • Fees charged weekly or in advance
  • Voluntary, supported by parents or privately owned but often less formal than the providers listed above

Crèche
Typically:

  • Offers sessional care on a 'drop-in' basis (i.e. 21/2 hours or more), all year round often neighbourhood centre, leisure centre or college crèches
  • Registered with local authority
  • Care for children aged 2½ - 5 years
  • Fees charged on day of attendance
  • Run by the location i.e. centre or college. Less 'structured' than the providers listed above

Childminder or Childminder Network
Typically:

  • Offers both part-time and/or full day care often including pre/after school and holiday care all year round. As childminders are 'self-employed' therefore hours can vary considerably
  • Registered with local authority
  • Care for children aged 0 - 8 years (covered by registration) but no upper limit
  • Fees charged weekly or monthly in advance
  • Run by individuals however some childminder networks exist where individuals work together as support group.

Pre/After School Club or 'out of hours' Club
Typically:

  • Attached to schools or in nurseries offering pre and/or after school care with drop off and pick services where appropriate term time only. In addition, some holiday care may be available
  • Can be registered with local authority if providing care for 2 or more hours a day
  • Care for children aged 0 - 8 years (covered by registration) but also offer care for up to 11 years
  • Fees charged weekly or monthly
  • Run by School, nursery, privately or franchised business

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