Which childcare options are available?

There are many different childcare options available to parents and guardians, ranging from babysitters and childminders to nurseries and play groups and before and after school clubs. Childminders tend to cater for individual children or small groups of children, while nurseries, playgroups and Sure Start centres cater for much larger groups of children.

There are advantages of all types of childcare; one on one care allows children to get a great deal of attention, while group childcare allows them to develop social skills and spend time with other children. Before and after school clubs are very useful for parents who start or finish work before or after school hours; many are free and run by local schools. Babysitting is usually a casual, informal arrangement which involves somebody looking after children for a short period of time; many people use babysitters if they go out for the evening, for example.

What are the benefits of working with children?

There are many benefits of working with children; childcare is extremely rewarding and you will find that you get a lot of love and affection from the children you look after. Many people build lasting relationships with the children they look after and the bond you make with the children in your care is very special. When you work with children you are able to watch them grow up and develop.

If you work as a registered childminder, you can generally fit your hours in to suit you, as most childminders are self-employed. This means you can work as little or as often as you want and you can choose your own holidays, and you can also set your own rates.

How much can you expect to earn if you work in childcare?

Childcare is not a well-paid industry relatively speaking but there are many benefits of the job. In general, nursery nurses can expect to earn between £5.50 and £12 per hour (depending on their age and experience) and childminders can expect to earn anything between £3 and £15 per hour (depending on where you live and how many children are in your care). Nannies who work full-time can expect to earn anything between £200 and £400 per week if they live in or £250 to £500 per week if they live out (this is based on a 40-50 hour week).

Can anyone work in childcare?

Most people can work in childcare in some capacity but there are certain requirements for some positions; some positions require qualifications and experience, while others are open to anyone. It is important that people who work with children have certain character traits, as they must be patient, caring, enjoy working with children, compassionate, energetic and outgoing.

How do I become a childminder?

If you want to become a childminder you need to register with the National Childminding Association and be inspected by Ofsted; you must fill in an application form, undergo an Ofsted visit and pay a registration fee. Childminders are also required to complete a paediatric first aid course before they can work and complete an early years course after they have registered.

How do I become a nursery nurse?

If you want to become a nursery nurse you will probably have to complete a childcare course of some kind; many people go through the NVQ scheme but some also take GCSE and A level exams in childcare. Some nurseries will take people who have no experience or qualifications and have a genuine interest in pursuing a career in childcare; they will learn on the job and complete qualifications while they work.

What is Ofsted?

Ofsted is an organisation, which regulates providers of childcare, education and training for children and young people. Ofsted carries out inspections to ensure that children are being cared for and educated in a safe environment. The organisation is also responsible for regulating standards of care and education, which assures high quality childcare and teaching.

Choosing a nursery for childcare is a difficult process for many parents and there are lots of things to consider when looking for a suitable nursery for your child. Below are some tips for parents and carers when searching for a nursery:

Looking around

It is important to have a look around different nurseries; you can only get a real feel of a place by going and having a look around, so take a tour, even if you are already impressed by the leaflets, prospectus or website. All nurseries should have an open door policy and it is best to turn up unannounced so that you get a real feel for the place; if you arrange a visit in advance, the nursery may be geared up towards attracting you and this may give a false impression of what the nursery is really like.

It is best to avoid visiting at lunchtime, as this is generally very busy and you will only be able to see the children sat down eating their lunch. If you go during the afternoon, it is more likely that you will get a glimpse of the kind of activities and facilities on offer. Make sure you tailor your visit to your child’s needs. For example, if your child enjoys playing outside ask about the outdoor facilities and if your child has special needs, ask about the facilities and support available at the nursery.

Ask lots of questions

During the visit, ask lots of questions about the nursery, you could ask about the childcare routine, the facilities and activities on offer, parent involvement and special events and menus; if your child has special dietary requirements, this will be particularly important.

It is also a good idea to ask practical questions, such as whether you need to provide your own nappies, spare clothes, formula milk, for example; if a nursery provides nappies, you may want to ask about the brand, as some children have allergies to specific nappies or wipes. You may also want to ask about the policy on giving children medication.

Get a feel for the place

Many people go with their first impressions when it comes to making a decision and you can gain an instant feel for a nursery when you enter the building or step into the different rooms. Feel free to talk to the children and the members of staff and observe the children while you are at the nursery; try to gauge how the children seem, are they happy, engaged in activities, games and play, do they seem to get on well with the members of staff and are they encouraged to be active? Observe how the children play together and take time to have a look at the walls and display boards; this will give you an idea of the activities the children take part in and the days out they go on; look for photographs of children playing games and having fun.

Read the Ofsted report

All nurseries are inspected by Ofsted and everyone can access the report; simply ask the person showing you round and have a read of the document. The report will give you a general idea of how the nursery is run and will also highlight the positive and negative aspects of the nursery.

Childcare is a career which is open to most people but to work in childcare you need to have certain character traits and attributes: these include:

• Getting on with children (this sounds obvious but not everyone likes being around children and some people feel uncomfortable around small children)
• Patience and tolerance: children can be demanding and many people in childcare work long hours so it is important to be patient and have plenty of stamina
• Lots of energy: children have bundles of energy and are always on the go so it’s important that you can keep up with them
• Compassion: it is important to be compassionate and caring when working with children
• Nurturing

Qualifications and education

Many people who work in childcare have qualifications and a great deal of experience but these are not always necessary. Many people learn on the job and complete college courses and training courses while they work. Some jobs (such as nursery nurses) require certain levels of qualifications and if you don’t have any qualifications, you will probably have to go in an entry level (for example, being a nursery assistant) and work your way up the career ladder.

If you do not want to follow an academic course, you may wish to consider becoming a nanny or a childminder. You can become a childminder by registering with the National Childminding Association, paying a registration fee and passing an Ofsted inspection. Childminders also have to do a paediatric first aid course and complete an early years course. Many nannies do not have formal qualifications but many have experience in childcare and may have relevant skills and training.

There is a range of childcare options available for preschool children, these include nursery schools, preschool groups, playgroups, childminders and Sure Start centres.

Nursery schools

Nurseries provide full-time care facilities for children under the age of 5, and most nurseries have different rooms for different age groups and many are family-run. Nurseries provide meals and many children stay for whole days, while their parents are at work. A typical day for a child who attends a nursery may include eating breakfast, lunch and tea, taking part in games, free play and fun and educational activities, doing creative activities, such as painting and drawing and going out on trips.

Playgroups

Playgroups are open during school hours; playgroups enable children to meet new friends and have fun while their parents go to work or have a few hours to themselves. Playgroups are informal and designed to give children an opportunity to get together with other children and have fun playing games and doing creative and educational activities. Unlike nurseries, playgroups do not provide meals, although many offer snacks and drinks throughout the day and some have a lunch club, where children can bring a packed lunch if they are staying for both afternoon session.

Childminders and nannies

Childminders work in their own home and provide care for a small group of children or a single child. Childminders are registered and must be inspected by Ofsted. Nannies are similar to childminders but they do not work in their own home. Instead they travel to the child’s house to look after them and they may also help with domestic chores, such as washing and cooking. Nannies are not regulated.

Sure Start centres

Sure Start children’s centres are located across the UK and they offer a range of services, including tips for parents, health advice and services and help with training, qualifications and finding employment for parents; most centres also provide childcare.

Preschool childcare and education

Preschool childcare and education are designed to prepare children for school; activities are geared towards informing children and encouraging them to learn, as well as play. Preschool childcare is also useful for teaching children good habits which they will need when they go to school, such as sitting still for set periods of time, putting their hand up to ask a question and sitting at the table and eating nicely at mealtimes.

Financial assistance for paying for preschool childcare

All three and four year olds in the UK are entitled to a certain amount of free childcare each week; this can be provided by childminders, nurseries and play schemes and playgroups. Three and four year olds are entitled to 15 hours of free care for 38 weeks of the year.

Kindergarten

Kindergarten is a form of pre-school education, which helps to ease the transition from being at home to going to school for children. Kindergarten is a term used for the first year of school in some countries (such as Australia) but in the UK the term kindergarten is rarely used and usually refers to preschool education. Kindergarten in the UK usually applies to nursery school education, which usually involves full-time education for children while their parents are at work.

In the USA, Kindergarten is part of the school system; children usually attend kindergarten at the age of 5 before they start formal school. The year in Kindergarten helps to prepare children for full-time schooling and makes the transition from being at home to being at school easier for children to handle.

Au pairs are nannies who work in foreign countries. They usually go abroad to learn a language or experience a different culture and live with a family and help out with the domestic chores and partake in childcare to earn money. Au pairs generally live with the family and help with the general running of the house, as well as looking after the children in exchange for paid accommodation and a small wage. Most au pairs are young, single women aged between 17 and 27. However, this is not always the case.

Who can be an au pair?

Many European countries are part of an au pair scheme, which allows people to travel freely to these countries and take a job as an au pair without requiring a visa. The scheme allows nationals of participating countries to live with a family for up to two years and learn the language, whilst helping around the house and looking after children. To participate in the scheme in the UK, au pairs must work at least five hours five days a week and be prepared to babysit two evenings a week; they must come to the UK to learn English and agree to help out around the house and care for the children for up to two years.

Au pairs do not have to have formal qualifications, though many may have qualifications. As they are coming to the UK to learn English, it is important to recognise that many au pairs will not speak fluent English when they arrive. It is advisable to find out as much as possible about the individual before you offer them a post as an au pair in your home and choose somebody who meets your expectations and is well-suited to childcare.

How much do au pairs earn?

Being an au pair is not a well-paid job but it provides an ideal opportunity to experience a different culture and learn a new language; au pairs have their accommodation and living costs paid for and authorities recommend a weekly wage of around £55 (some employers may pay more than this).