As your child grows you may want him or her to spend time learning and playing in childcare and early education. Your options could include a childminder, pre-school, day nursery, nursery class, out-of-school club etc.
Childcare information
To understand the different types of childcare available, read or download our range of information leaflets and get advice and support about all aspects of childcare, see the 'Read more' section on this page.
Search for childcare
The first step to finding the right childcare is to establish what is available in your area.
Either:
- Contact the Children and Young People Information Service on 01454 868008 or
- Visit the Childcare link website (See 'Other websites' section) or
- Visit the Direct Gov website and visit the parents and childcare pages
When you visit possible childcare options, look for these quality pointers:
- Are the children calm, safe and happy?
- Do children play and talk together?
- Are the staff listening to children and answering them carefully?
- Are the staff friendly and proud of 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.