Choosing childcare 

Trying to find childcare that suits your family can be a time-consuming and stressful process. 

We’re very fortunate in the UK to have so many childcare options available, both private and public, each with its own pros and cons. 

Rather than look objectively at the ‘best childcare choices’, it’s more important to think about which childcare option is best for your family. 

The main things I think you need to consider when you’re choosing childcare are:

• Hours: Think about your work schedule and the hours you’ll need childcare. Are you looking for full-time care or just a few days a week? Make sure the childcare provider’s hours align with your needs.
• Costs: Understand your budget and how much you can afford to spend on childcare. Consider all expenses, including fees, deposits, and any additional costs that may arise. Many nurseries take waiting list deposits, then joining fees, and might add sundries onto your monthly bills. Or agencies might charge an up-front fee before your monthly bills start. It’s important to understand your total expenses for each. 
• At home vs out of home: Decide whether you prefer childcare in your own home or at a childcare facility. Each option has its benefits, so choose what works best for your family’s lifestyle and preferences. Do you work from home? Many nannies prefer the parents to be out of the home while they’re working so the child finds it easier to connect with the nanny. 
• Setting size: Consider the size of the childcare setting. Do you prefer a small, intimate setting with fewer children, or are you comfortable with a larger group environment? 
• Staff to child ratios: Check the staff to child ratios to ensure your child receives adequate attention and supervision. Lower ratios typically mean more individualised care.
• Distance/Commute: Think about the location of the childcare provider and how far it is from your home or workplace. Consider the commute time and convenience of drop-off and pick-up.
• Resilience: Children can get be ill a lot, and some types of childcare exclude poorly children for a period of time. How resilient do your arrangements need to be? 

This consideration list can get longer if your family has unique requirements – think about what’s most important to you, so what your ‘deal-breakers’ are vs nice-to-haves. And when you’re writing your consideration list, think about the practical side of it. For example, you might find a childminder that you absolutely love when you visit it in the middle of a day, but what’s the commute like during peak hours? 

These are the top things I think you should be mindful of when you start your childcare search:

• Awkward working hours or patterns: If you work irregular hours or long shifts, look for childcare providers that offer flexible scheduling.
• Multiples: If you’re looking for childcare for twins, triplets, or multiple young children, consider providers experienced in caring for multiples and able to handle the additional demands, and consider which childcare you have to pay per child rather than per childcare.
• SEN Experience: If your child has special educational needs (SEN), find childcare providers with experience and training in supporting children with similar needs.
• Disabilities: For children with disabilities, consider which childcare options would be equipped with the resources and expertise to provide appropriate care and support. You may also be entitled to further Government support, so make sure you understand what your budget is to care for any complex needs. 
• Languages: If you speak a language other than English at home, you may want to find a childcare provider that encourages this language, like a French nanny, but be aware that if this becomes a deal-breaker that will inevitably limit your childcare options. We often hear from families that initially place this very high on their priority list but downgrade it once they realise it will mean tradeoffs in other dimensions