Childcare Options for Children Aged 0 - 14 Years

Childminders and Childminder Agencies

Childminders offer the same and play opportunities as other childcare settings such as messy play, arts, music, reading, cookery, imaginative play and out door play. They also will take children to the park, drop in sessions, the library and play groups. Sometimes childminders work with other childminders or employ assistants in order to care for a larger group of children or offer more one to one support where needed.

They are usually paid on an hourly basis at a rate negotiated with the parent. Hourly rates vary around Hampshire. You'll need to discuss required hours, holiday pay and other terms and conditions and ensure that details of these are included in the contract you have with your childminder.

Childminders can be independent or work as part of an agency. Childminding agencies (CMA) are organisations designed to offer a ‘one-stop shop’ of services for both childminders and parents.

Organisations, from the Voluntary, Private and Independent sectors and local authorities can provide childminder agency services and must register with Ofsted. You can check if a childminder is registered.

The CMA offers training and business support and will quality assure their childminders to ensure that they provide a high quality and safe service for their parents and children.

CMAs offer parents a range of services to support them in finding a childminder and offer some additional services, such as cover, when a childminder is sick or on holiday. Each CMA will explain the range of services they provide.

As a minimum, agencies will be required to maintain a register of childminders, undertake the necessary quality assurance visits and provide the prescribed number of continuing professional development and support hours to their childminders.

Key features:

Are self-employed child carers who will often look after your child in their own home.
Will be registered with Ofsted (if they care for children under the age of eight).
Can often offer flexible care.
As they work with small groups of children, they may be able to offer more individualised care.
Can look after siblings of different ages.

Childminders and Childminder Agencies

Childminders offer the same and play opportunities as other childcare settings such as messy play, arts, music, reading, cookery, imaginative play and out door play. They also will take children to the park, drop in sessions, the library and play groups. Sometimes childminders work with other childminders or employ assistants in order to care for a larger group of children or offer more one to one support where needed.

They are usually paid on an hourly basis at a rate negotiated with the parent. Hourly rates vary around Hampshire. You'll need to discuss required hours, holiday pay and other terms and conditions and ensure that details of these are included in the contract you have with your childminder.

Childminders can be independent or work as part of an agency. Childminding agencies (CMA) are organisations designed to offer a ‘one-stop shop’ of services for both childminders and parents.

Organisations, from the Voluntary, Private and Independent sectors and local authorities can provide childminder agency services and must register with Ofsted. You can check if a childminder is registered.

The CMA offers training and business support and will quality assure their childminders to ensure that they provide a high quality and safe service for their parents and children.

CMAs offer parents a range of services to support them in finding a childminder and offer some additional services, such as cover, when a childminder is sick or on holiday. Each CMA will explain the range of services they provide.

As a minimum, agencies will be required to maintain a register of childminders, undertake the necessary quality assurance visits and provide the prescribed number of continuing professional development and support hours to their childminders.

Key features:

Are self-employed child carers who will often look after your child in their own home.
Will be registered with Ofsted (if they care for children under the age of eight).
Can often offer flexible care.
As they work with small groups of children, they may be able to offer more individualised care.
Can look after siblings of different ages.

Day nurseries look after and educate children aged 0-5.

They are usually open all day and a few are now opening up later in the evening and even at weekends.

There are different types of nurseries including private, community, council and workplace nurseries. However all nurseries are registered and inspected by Ofsted.

All nurseries will offer a range of play and learning opportunities for your child including: messy play, arts, music, reading, cookery, imaginative play, construction and out-door play.

Weekly costs will vary. Nursery costs can sometimes be subsidised by the local authority or by employers, and you may be entitled to other help with your childcare costs.

Day nurseries look after and educate children aged 0-5.

They are usually open all day and a few are now opening up later in the evening and even at weekends.

There are different types of nurseries including private, community, council and workplace nurseries. However all nurseries are registered and inspected by Ofsted.

All nurseries will offer a range of play and learning opportunities for your child including: messy play, arts, music, reading, cookery, imaginative play, construction and out-door play.

Weekly costs will vary. Nursery costs can sometimes be subsidised by the local authority or by employers, and you may be entitled to other help with your childcare costs.

Nursery classes are open school hours during term time and many are attached to a local primary school.

They will offer the same play and learning opportunities as other nurseries.

Children can attend all day or just on a sessional basis depending on the nursery policy.

Private nursery class costs will vary. You may be entitled to help with your childcare costs.

Nursery classes are open school hours during term time and many are attached to a local primary school.

They will offer the same play and learning opportunities as other nurseries.

Children can attend all day or just on a sessional basis depending on the nursery policy.

Private nursery class costs will vary. You may be entitled to help with your childcare costs.

Nannies and home carers are employed by parents to care for children at home and can be suitable for parents who need flexible childcare; who have a large family or who have a child with a disability.

As their employer, parents are responsible for paying their tax and national insurance. If your nanny is registered with Ofsted you may be entitled to help with your childcare costs.

Finding the right nanny for your needs can take time and one of the best ways to find a trustworthy nanny is to contact a recruitment agency. For a fee they will match your requirements with candidates for you to interview. If you choose to advertise privately for a nanny it is vital that you ensure you hire someone qualified and safe to care for your children.

Safety checks and references: Your nanny should expect you to check their identity, background, qualifications and employment history.

It is vital when interviewing a potential nanny that you ask to see:
Proof of identity: ask to see two of the following – passport, driving licence and birth certificate. Insist on seeing originals as photocopying can disguise forgeries. One of these must carry a photograph.
References: always ask for two referees, even if the nanny has been referred to you from an agency. One referee should be the nanny’s last or present employer.

Contact referees with open questions that request a description of the nanny’s work for the time they employed the nanny.

For example:
• Why did the nanny leave?
• What were their strengths and weaknesses?
• Do you see any problems with the nanny being left in sole charge of your child?
• Were there any health problems or sick leave taken?
• Would you employ them again?

Follow up written references with a telephone call or by visiting the referees if possible.

Ask for a full employment history covering all the work done since the nanny left full-time education. Identify all gaps and ask for explanations for them. Gaps could be concealing something, such as a criminal record or a medical condition which might suggest the candidate is unsuitable to be left in charge of your children.

Immigration status: This can be as simple as checking and photocopying the passport. For others you will need to check that there is a valid visa that permits work in the UK.
Knowingly employing an illegal immigrant can lead to an unlimited fine and up to a two-year jail sentence.

Qualification certificates: insist on originals and do not accept photocopies. Ask the awarding body for verification if the original certificates have been lost.

Criminal record check: If using an agency, parents can check with the agency that the candidate is DBS checked. Alternatively, parents could ask the nanny to show them a copy of the disclosure and, while the individual would be quite free to refuse, the parents would be equally free not to employ the individual on that basis.

Interviewing: It is also a good idea to know what attributes you are looking for in a nanny before you start conducting interviews.

To make sure you are well prepared it is a good idea to:
• Make a shortlist of potential nannies from applications received
• Talk to each selected applicant on the phone
• Arrange for a friend, your partner or a relative to interview with you
• Prepare a list of questions and put the same questions to each applicant
• Take notes at each interview.

Consider:
Skills and knowledge: childcare and child development qualifications, ability to plan and arrange safe, fun learning opportunities. Other skills could include nutrition - planning and preparing healthy meals and snacks, first aid training, driving experience and organisational skills.
Attitudes: interest in children as individuals, confidence, resourcefulness.
Experience: of working with children of different ages and in a range of settings.

Examples of questions to ask at interview:
• What qualifications or training do you have?
• What kind of experience do you have?
• Why do you enjoy working with children?
• Why do you want this particular job?
• How would you organise my child’s day and help them achieve developmental goals?
• Where will you take my child out?
• What’s your policy on potty training, feeding, teaching right from wrong?

If you decide to hire a nanny, it is a good idea to draw up a contract.

The contract should contain:
• A job description and hours of work
• Salary and agreed method of payment
• Length of employment
• Details of sickness and holiday pay, expenses
• Personal additions on issues such as limitations on watching television and sweets.

You can find a template nanny contract on Nannyjob.co.uk.