Where To Start Searching For Local Childcare

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Although there are many more childcare options available right on our doorsteps than ever before, from nurseries, to childminders, nannies to private tutors and Au Pairs; it can all be a bit of a minefield though especially if you are a new mum which is likely to be the time you actually begin your childcare search.

How to find A childcare Provider?

Begin by doing some research of what is actually available in your area. Ask yourself.. would you prefer something close to your workplace, home, Grandparents for ease or emergencies?

Although you may already have a childcare preference like I did with a nursery consider all options. I wanted mine to be in a school-like environment as early as they could. I was always very anxious at school and I still put it down to not being in nursery environment when I was young because I hated that too so I stayed with my Grandma up until full time school.

Things to consider during Your ChildCare Search

When I had my first born, the best childcare that suited our needs was a nursery near to where I worked. I wanted to know they were closeby, I wouldn’t get stuck in traffic, I wouldn’t get charged an excessive amount should they be left in 5 minutes later than their pick up time because the nursery was just a mile away and walkable.

I also wanted to make sure they had been Ofsted inspected and that I was happy with what they had seen.

You don’t have to know whether you are going back full part, part time to just get a feel of a nursery or childcare provider either. You needn’t wait until you are coming to the end of your maternity leave to go on the hunt for local childcare options. Aside from the financial implications there should not be any difference in the service they provide whether your child is going to be in one day, two days or all week.

Childcare.co.uk is a multi-award winning online networking platform with 2 million users! It helps connect parents, childcare providers, schools and private tutors and is one place you should certainly begin your childcare search at.

The site allows you to search for your nearest provider using your postcode and show popular searches for Ofsted approved nurseries, nurseries that provide free funding for 2 and 3 year olds, holiday clubs, even before and after school care too!

I even found a few after school clubs on there locally that I didn’t know existed!

To save you ringing around asking every nursery for pricing too childcare.co.uk gives you information on availability, fee’s and even their Ofsted report. So if you are on a strict budget or you don’t particularly want to pay more than x-amount per month, you can rule out those that charge more.

The site also has reviews from other parents which are nice to read and allows you to get the feel of a nursery, school or club before you’ve even stepped foot into the building!

Childcare.co.uk also has the facility to upload childcare requests too. So if you are looking for something specific or you want to add a request months before you intend to really start looking or need someone then this is a really good area for you to do so.

It’s such a good site that would benefit so many parents. I’d highly recommend you sign up whether you are new to the childcare search with a newborn or perhaps like me your children are now older and so you are looking at other alternatives such as after school clubs etc.

It might be a scary thing to have to consider your childcare options at such an early age but the minute you find ‘the one’ you will know it’s the right one for you and your family.

Feel free to PIN to read again later…