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All children under the age of 8 needing childcare for more than two hours a day should be with a provider registered with Ofsted unless the care is provided by a close family member.
Before you enrol your child visit potential places with your child while other children are there.
Think about the times you will need childcare, the costs, support you may get with the cost and what you can afford, the best location to avoid tiring journeys for yourself and your child and whether your child has dietary, physical, special, religious or cultural needs which need to be accommodated.
Remember you are looking for a warm welcome, a combination of care and education, enthusiastic adults, good resources and an approach that will meet the needs of your child.
Your choices
Many nurseries care for babies
Some offer out of school clubs for school aged children
A 1:3, 1:4 and 1:8 adult to child ratio depending on the child's age
Staff have, or are working towards, an early years qualification
May offer sessional care as well as full day care
Likely to be open all year
Early Years Entitlement hours available for three and four year olds
Other support with costs may be available
Inspected by Ofsted
Follow the Early Years Foundation Stage for 0-5s
Children usually attend from two or two½ years of age
A 1:4 to 1:8 adult to child ratio
Staff have, or are working towards, an early years qualification
Usually term time only
Some offer lunch; some are open for school hours
Early Years Entitlement hours available for three and four year olds
Other support with costs may be available
Inspected by Ofsted
Follow the Early Years Foundation Stage for 0-5s
Can care for children of all ages
A maximum of six children ay any one time, of these three can be under five and one can be under 12 months old
May have an early years qualification
Times arranged by agreement
Usually all year apart from childminder's own holiday
Childminders may be registered to take the Early Years Entitlement, the childminder must have achieved an Ofsted inspection grade of 'Requires Improvement' or above for deliver the funding for three and four year old's, and an Ofsted grade of 'Good' or above to deliver the two year old element'.
Can take and collect from pre-school or school
Other support with costs may be available
Inspected by Ofsted
Follow the Early Years Foundation Stage for 0-5s
Limited number in Wiltshire attached to schools
Admitted from September following the child's third birthday
1:13 adult to child ratio
All staff have an early years qualification
Up to five mornings or five afternoons per week - term time only
Free to parents
Inspected by Ofsted
Follow the Early Years Foundation Stage for 0-5s
May be admitted from three years - check school policy
No set adult to child ratio
No legal regulations about staff qualifications
School hours and terms, usually shorter than state schools
Early Years Entitlement hours available for three and four year olds in some schools
Fees charged
Can care for children of all ages
No set adult:child ratio
May have an early years qualification
Available all year
Charges and terms negotiated between family and nanny or nanny agency
May be registered on the Ofsted Voluntary Childcare Register
