Looking for childcare?

Choosing someone to look after your child when you return to work or training is one of the most important decisions you can make. Nearly 500,000 children are cared for by childminders and nannies, making home-based childcare the second most popular form of formal childcare in England and Wales.
Registered childminders work in their own homes, providing childcare for up to six children at any one time aged from birth to 8 years old. Many children stay with the same childminder for years – some well into secondary school.
Registered childminders are usually self-employed and are inspected by Ofsted in England.

Why choose a childminder

Using childcare in a home environment can be more flexible than some other forms of childcare.
Also, the children can enjoy real-life learning experiences like cooking, shopping, gardening, mealtimes and
outings to the park and library.
The childcarers can be spontaneous too – an unexpected sunny or snowy day is a great
opportunity for outdoor play and learning.