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Childcare Options

Childcare options
 

When the time comes to return to work you may feel a little overwhelmed by all the childcare options out there. Going back to work will be a time of adjustment for both you and your child so it’s important to choose a childcare option that works best for you and your family. Spending time considering your options for childcare and weighing up the different options available to find the right one will make life a whole lot less stressful for you when you are back at work.

When choosing childcare options it’s useful to consider details such as; how affordable the childcare service is, the childcare setting’s opening hours and how they fit in with your work pattern, the location of the childcare setting and how easy or difficult it will be for you to get there in time for drop off and pick up times.

Here are some popular childcare options to consider:


Day Nurseries

Day nurseries are a popular childcare option for many parents, but one drawback of these is that they are normally expensive, so it is important to weigh up how much you earn against how much it costs to send your child to a private day nursery. Day nurseries sometimes offer all-inclusive packages, this means that items such as wipes, nappies, formula milk and sun cream are all included in the price.

Day Nurseries are inspected by Ofsted and have to adhere to set staff to child ratios. Searching for child care centres near me should provide you with lots of day nurseries in your local area for you to research further.


Childminders

Childminders care for your child in their own home. Choosing an Ofsted (or CSSIW in Wales) registered childminder means that they will have an up to date paediatric first aid certificate and will have completed an introductory childcare course. The childminder themselves and any other adults living at the address will have been checked by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).


State Nursery Schools

Some primary schools have a state nursery school based on the school grounds. State nursery schools offer many benefits, the main one being that they are normally free to attend! Attending a state nursery school will help with a smoother transition for your child when they start school as they will already be familiar with the location.


Preschools

Preschools provide Ofsted registered childcare usually for children aged from two to four years old. Preschools are a great way to prepare your child for starting school by helping them to develop their social skills around other children and getting them used to being in a routine. Children typically attend preschool for afternoon or morning sessions lasting around two and a half hours.


Nannies

A nanny is a great childcare choice if you’re looking for someone to take on the bulk of childcare duties for your children. Nannies can either be employed on a full time or part time basis and can sometimes live within the family home. If you choose to have a live-in nanny they will require their own separate bedroom within your home.

A nanny will undertake tasks such as school runs, nursery runs, preparing the children’s meals, as well as cleaning the children’s bedrooms and playroom. If you are looking to appoint a nanny but aren’t sure where to start, a child care agency will be able to help you find a nanny that’s right for your family.


Family

When it comes to childcare, asking for help from a family member can feel like the ideal childcare option. Grandparents are increasingly taking on childcare duties to allow their own children to return to work. A huge benefit of a family member helping with childcare is that it will save you lots of money! Bear in mind that you may need to point out safety concerns about your family member’s home if it isn’t very child-friendly. This could include issues such as open garden ponds or pools, furniture that could potentially topple over or stairs that aren’t fitted with stair gates.


Mum Share

Sharing childcare with another parent can seem like a great option if you both require childcare on different days. It can be a useful arrangement that allows you both to work without the need to pay childcare costs. However, sharing childcare with another parent can have drawbacks. Problems can arise if you don’t share a similar approach to raising your children, or if one of you feels like they are taking on more childcare duties than the other.


Au Pairs

An au pair is usually a foreign student who comes to stay in your home in exchange for helping out with childcare and some housework duties. Au pairs often come to the UK to help improve their English language skills. If you are looking for an au pair, child care agencies will be able to help you find a suitable match.

 

 

 

 

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