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Choosing childcare

Choosing childcare and early education can be a big step for many families. As well as making sure that the type of childcare you choose is the one that best meets the needs of you and your child, you also need reassurance that your child will be safe, secure, well looked-after and happy. This web page provides you with all the information you need including:

You can also find out more information by downloading our Choosing Childcare and Early Education booklet and childcare related factsheets in the 'Downloads and documents' section.

Where can I get a list of childcare providers from?

If you are looking for childcare, the Family Information Service can provide you with a list of providers to meet your requirements.

To find childcare in your local area:

What is the Warwickshire FIS Childcare Finder?

If you would like to search for childcare yourself, you can use our Warwickshire FIS Childcare Finder to find out what childcare is available to you in your local area.

Childcare Finder is very easy to use. As well as providing you with a list of local childcare providers, it will also give you essential details about different providers including:

  • How close they are to where you live
  • How much childcare will cost
  • Opening times
  • Contact details
  • Their Ofsted number (which can be used on the Ofsted website to read their latest report)
  • Details about when they last updated their information

all of which can help you to choose a childcare provider which is right for you and your child.

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Types of childcare available to you

Different types of childcare providers will offer you a different kind of service. Depending on your individual circumstances, some may be more suitable to you than others. It is worth spending some time looking at what different providers offer to make sure that you make the right decision for you and your family.

Childminders

These are professional self-employed childcare providers, who work in their own homes. Childminders often offer more flexible working hours and provide care for a mix of age ranges, from 6 weeks old to 8 years and older if required.

They may take your child to playgroup and later to/from school ensuring continuity of care. Childminders give children the opportunity to take part in everyday activities like shopping, visits to the park and family mealtimes.

Childminders may charge by the hour or have a weekly rate. Prices in Warwickshire vary from around £4 an hour upwards. Childminders may review their charges every 6 or 12 months when they renew their contract with parents/carers.

Accredited network childminders are trained and qualified to provide early years education for 3-4 year old children and some funding may be available to help you with the costs. The Family Information Service can advise you as to whether there are any childminders registered for nursery education funding in your area.

Private day nurseries

Full daycare is the term that applies to private day nurseries or nursery schools that are open for a continuous period of 4 hours or more. Private day nurseries will usually take children from 6 weeks to 5 years old. The usual opening hours for a day nursery is from 8.00am to 6.00pm. This enables parents and carers to work full time. Children attend full time or part time according to their parent's/carer's needs.

Charges are set by each nursery and vary across the county. All facilities will offer early years education and most are able to register for Nursery education funding
Nursery education funding (pdf, 525Kb)

The nursery funding provides all 3 and 4 year olds in Warwickshire with up to 15 hours a week of free early years education.

Maintained (Local Authority) nursery schools / classes

These are funded and run by the Local Authority and accept children in the September after their third birthday, although the admissions policy is currently under review. In some cases there may be arrangements for younger children to attend.

The nurseries offer free 2½ hour sessions in either the morning or the afternoon, Monday-Friday, during term time only. In special circumstances children may attend both the morning and the afternoon sessions.

Nursery classes are usually attached to an infant or primary school. A place in a nursery class, however, does not guarantee admission to the main school.

Applying for a maintained nursery place

If you would like your child to attend a local authority nursery school / class, you should start applying when your child is two years of age. You will need to identify possible schools/classes and then contact the headteacher of the school concerned.

In the event where there are more applications than there are places available, Local Authority nursery schools and classes have criteria to decide who should be offered a place.

Playgroups and pre-schools

The term sessional daycare usually applies to pre-schools and playgroups offering pre-school education sessions for children aged 2¾ to 5 years. Each session usually lasts 2 to 4 hours.

Groups may offer morning and afternoon sessions as long as there is a minimum break period of one hour is allowed between sessions. Where both morning and afternoon sessions are provided, individual children must not attend more than 5 sessions per week.

The cost of sessional day care has to be paid for by the parent/carer, however many groups have registered with the Warwickshire Local Authority for Nursery education funding as they provide Early Years Education.

Out of school care

Before and after school care is most likely to be offered by your child's school or by local childminders.

Holiday playschemes and holiday childcare for school age children may also be provided by schools, day nurseries and by childminders. Holiday schemes provide care all day during school holidays and sometimes at half term. If at all possible, it is advisable to book in advance.

Holiday activities for children are often organised by your local Council. Contact numbers for further details are:

  • Stratford District - 01789 260643
  • Rugby Borough - 01788 533711
  • North Warwickshire - 01827 719356 or 01827 719207
  • Nuneaton & Bedworth District - 024 7637 6362
  • Warwick District - 01926 456222

Crèches

Crèches can provide occasional care for children aged from 6 weeks up to 8 years old. They need to be registered with OFSTED if they run for more than 2 hours a day and more than 5 days a year, even if individual children attend for shorter periods.

Crèches may be in permanent premises, like those found in many leisure centres so that children can be cared for while their parents/carers use the facilities, or they are arranged as a temporary measure while parents/carers attend a conference or training course, for example.

Toddler groups

A Toddler group is a group of parents/carers who voluntarily provide play sessions for children under 5 and their carers within the local community. The groups are run and used by grandparents, aunts and uncles, childminders and nannies as well as parents.

Toddler groups usually meet once or twice a week for about 2 hours. Venues are diverse and include community centres, church halls, schools, clinics, scout huts and sports centres. The groups offer a safe and stimulating environment for children to develop in and the chance for them to explore a variety of activities which encourage the children to play together. Adults are offered the opportunity to meet people and make friends with others in similar situations.

The groups provide a range of activities for the children (painting, gluing, playing with water and sand, music, books, climbing frames, trikes etc). Some groups organise trips, sales, fun days and may be visited by librarians, dental health workers and health visitors.

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Things to look out for when visiting potential childcare providers

Making sure you choose the right kind of childcare setting for your child is a big decision for any parent to make. We would recommend that you visit a selection of providers to give you an idea of what will suit you and your child. Take your child with you to see how staff talk to them and try to visit during opening hours so you can get an idea of a typical day and to see if the children there are happy, calm and busy.

Always ask to see an Ofsted registration certificate, a recent inspection report and references from other parents.

The Family Information Service has drawn up a list of quality pointers to look out for when visiting potential childcare providers as well as a list of questions to think about when visiting nurseries and childminders

  • Are the children settled, safe and happy?
  • Do children play and talk together?
  • Are the staff listening to children and answering them carefully?
  • Are the staff friendly and enjoying their work?
  • Are the staff joining in with what the children are doing?
  • Are there lots of fun activities planned to help children learn and play? Can children plan some of these themselves?
  • Are there plenty of clean toys and equipment for children to use?
  • Are the premises clean, well-kept and safe for children with a fun outside play area (or will children go to parks and other places regularly)?
  • Do parents have plenty of chances to say what they want for their children?
  • If there are other things you want to know, do not be afraid to ask. Good childcare staff expect you to ask questions and will be happy to answer them.

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Questions to ask when visiting nurseries

How many children are each member of staff responsible for?

Ratios should be: 1 member of staff for every 3 children aged 0-2 years; children aged 2 years 1:4; children aged 3-7 years 1:8

What is the usual turnover of staff each year? What training do the staff have?

Answers to these questions will vary, but most childcare providers with employ staff with qualifications.

Can I see where children play outside and where do they sleep if they need to?

For example, what security measures are there to ensure that the children are safe?

What will my child eat and drink during the day?

For example, are special diets catered for if necessary?

What is the daily routine and how will my child be occupied?

For example, are there planned sessions as well as free-play time?

Will my child be kept with the same group of children?

This gives your child a chance to develop social skills and relationships with children of similar age.

How do you encourage good behaviour?

Until children learn to talk and communicate clearly, they often get frustrated and misbehave because they can't easily make you understand what is wrong, what they need - a hug or a drink for example - or that they are just tired and need to sleep.

How will I know what my child has been doing during the day?

For example, will your child have a key-carer that you can talk to about your child's experiences during the day?

What if my child becomes ill?

If you are at work, does your employer understand that you may need to take time off to care for your child if he or she is unwell?

Don't forget to ask about costs

If your child is aged 3 to 5 years, ask about Nursery education funding to see whether the nursery is registered for funding and when your child is eligible for funding.

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Questions to ask when visiting childminders

May I see your Ofsted registration certificate and your certificate of insurance and First Aid certificate?

If you are not sure, you can also contact the Family Information Service to check that a childcare provider is registered. Childminders should have public liability insurance and have taken an appropriate First Aid course.

How long have you been looking after children and what made you choose childminding as a career?

Many childminders have their own young children to care for. All registered childminders are obliged to complete the Introduction to Childminding Practice course within 6 months of getting registered. You should be shown certificates for any other qualifications taken.

Can I see where children play outside?

For example, what security measures are there to ensure that the children are safe? If there is no garden, are the children taken out on trips or to play in a local park regularly?

What do the children eat and drink? Are you able to cater for special diets?

Sometimes childminders and/or parents prefer children to bring their own packed lunches, though snacks and drinks will be provided.

What do you do with the children all day?

Many childminders take younger children to parent/carer & toddler group and/or to pre-school.

What ages are the other children who are regularly cared for at the same time as my child?

How does the childminder manage potty training or taking older children to school?

How do you encourage good behaviour?

Does the childminder have a policy for dealing with misbehaviour? Until children learn to talk and communicate clearly, they often get frustrated and misbehave because they can't easily make you understand what is wrong, what they need - a hug or a drink for example - or that they are just tired and need to sleep.

May I contact other parents whose children you care for or have cared for in advance in order to obtain references?

Providers may be able to provide contact details of parents to obtain references

Where will my child sleep during the day?

Most providers will have a room where children can sleep.

Are there any other adults around during the hours that minded children are cared for?

Sometimes childminders have an approved assistant, but this should be stated on their registration certificate.

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Childcare contracts

You will need to set up a legal contract with your childcare provider giving details of notice required, payment and any other details that need to be agreed. See our What do I need to know about childcare contracts factsheet which can be downloaded from the Documents and Downloads section on this page.

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Nursery education funding (NEF)

What is Nursery education funding?

If your child is 3 or 4 years of age, they are entitled to up to 15 hours of free early education each week at selected childcare providers who are registered for Nursery education funding.

These providers include pre-schools, playgroups, private day nurseries, nurseries of independent (private) schools, accredited childminders and school nurseries.

Once you have secured a place for your child at an NEF registered provider, the provider will make a claim for funding on your behalf as soon as your child is old enough to receive it. This funding is paid directly to the childcare provider by Warwickshire County Council twice a term.

Parents should not be asked to pay for these sessions in advance and then claim the funding back afterwards. These sessions should be free at the point of use.

When will my child be old enough to receive Nursery education funding?

Your child's funding will begin the term following their third birthday and continues until they go to school. For example:

Nursery education funding
Child born between: Entitlement begins:
1 January and 31 March Summer Term following their third birthday
1 April and 31 August Autumn Term following their third birthday
1 September and 31 December Spring Term following their third birthday

Advantages for parents and carers

By using a free nursery funded place you could:

  • Go back to work with affordable childcare
  • Get a break from being a mum, dad or carer for a few hours each day
  • Increase your work hours and still afford childcare
  • Talk to trained childcare professionals and get help from them if you are worried about your child's progress
  • See your child get used to playing with other children and make friends
  • Meet other families (especially if you are new to the area)

Contact the Family Information Service on 0845 090 8044 or 01926 742274 for more information and for details of providers who are registered for Nursery education funding in your area.Nursery education funding leaflet (pdf, 525Kb) provides you with more information on this scheme.

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Other help with childcare costs

Childcare can be expensive. There are, however, a number of financial support schemes which could help you with the costs of childcare including Tax Credits, childcare voucher schemes and nursery education funding.

  • Paying for childcare - provides information on the different types of financial support you may be able to receive to help with the costs of your childcare.
  • Directgov - Tax Credits - If you work and pay for childcare you may be able to get tax credits to help with up to 70% of the costs. You usually have to work for at least 16 hours a week to qualify.
  • Childcare Vouchers and other employer supported childcare - Childcare vouchers can be used to pay for childcare and are one of the ways that your employer can help to support you with these costs.
  • Tax credits or childcare vouchers? - If your individual circumstances mean that you could claim either Working Tax Credits or Childcare Vouchers, it should be noted that you can not claim both of these. Call the Tax Credits helpline on 0845 300 3900 to find out which method is best for you financially.
  • Directgov - Extra help for students with children - You may be able to get extra financial help if you are in full time higher education with dependent children.
  • Directgov - Care to Learn - If you are a young parent under 20 and have one or more children, Care to Learn can help pay for your childcare and related travel costs while you’re learning.

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Childcare provider inspection reports

Childcare providers should be happy to provide you with a copy of their most recent Ofsted inspection report. You can also search for a childcare providers latest inspection report yourself by visiting the Ofsted - Inspection Reports webpage.

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For more information

If you would like to discuss your childcare options further, please do not hesitate to contact the Family Information Service.

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