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Childcare Options

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Options for Childcare

What sort of care is available?

You know your child. Take some time to find out about the options and visit as many as you can.  Sure Start is the government department with responsibility for helping to ensure that you have all the information you need to give the best start for your child. Contact FIS for a copy of the booklet 'Looking for Childcare'. You can also find national information at http://www.childcarelink.gov.uk/

Sure Start aims to ensure that parents and carers of children aged 0 -5, have access to a range of childcare options, plus health advice, family support and information about early years education. Plans are underway for a number of children's centres around the borough, and there is a new family centre in Maidenhead, but please contact FIS for information about these, and about future developments for local services for families and children.

FIS can also provide information about help with the childcare costs or you can visit http://www.daycaretrust.org.uk/.

What is meant by registered provision?

All providers offering childcare, such day nurseries, childminders, nursery schools and pre-schools,  will have a certificate from OFSTED on display with details of the number of children, age range and qualifications of the staff or provider. Staff will have had a police check (CRB check), and regular inspections to ensure that standards are being maintained. They will also display their policies on key issues such as health and safety, and child protection. Registered childcare currently qualifies if parents wish to apply for Working Tax Credits to help with childcare costs, or childcare vouchers made available through their employer.

Choosing a childminder or day nursery

Day Nurseries

Day Nurseries provide full or part time day care for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years old. Some only care for children over 2, and places may be limited. Hours are usually between 8am and 6pm  weekdays. All are registered with Ofsted, whether they are privately run, community or workplace day nurseries.Local providers can be found by following the links for Windsor and Maidenhead on http://www.childcarelink.gov.uk/ .

Childminders

Childminders are self employed and provide full day care or 'wrap around care' based in the childminder's home. This can sometimes be a flexible option and hours can be arranged to suit  parents and carers. You can see a local listing of registered childminders on the national site http://www.childcarelink.gov.uk/ . Follow the links to our local pages.The areas for registered childminders include Maidenhead, Windsor, Ascot, Sunningdale, Eton Wick, Datchet, Horton and Wraysbury.

Not all registered childminders are listed here, so call the FIS for up to date information and current vacancy details. Registered childminders must complete a pre registration course and have had a CRB check and first aid training. They are supported by the local Early Years and Childcare Service who also provide training in a range of topics such as child protection, health and safety, food hygiene and creative play. In this area, the cost for childminding is between £3.50 to £4.50 per hour, with holiday arrangements and other terms agreed by contract.

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Network Childminders

The Royal Borough has two childminder networks. The NCMA approved network of 'Children Come First' childminders are committed to ongoing training, and working towards, or achieving the National Childminding Association's Quality Childminding Charter. They are supported by a network co-ordinator, and parents can access quality assured childcare at no extra cost. Contact us for a leaflet about Choosing a Home based Childcarer produced by the NCMA. 

The Community Childminding group operate as a network too, and have been trained to offer respite and support to local families where there are additional needs. FIS also works closely with NHS Childcare Co-ordinators based at Wexham Park Hospital and Heatherwood Hospital to provide information about flexible childcare.

What is unregistered day care?

Play groups for children under 8 years, that meet for less than 2 hours per day, do not have to be registered. Other types of unregistered care include mother's help's, au pairs, agency nannies and babysitters, where help may be provided at the child's home. Parent and Toddler Groups are not registered as a parent or carer should stay with the group and take part in the activities. A crèche facility may provide registered or unregistered care, as the parents may leave children for a short period while they are involved in an activity nearby. If the parents are away for longer than 2 hours then the care setting must be registered with OFSTED. The creche facilities at the borough leisure centres are registered. Call FIS for a list of creche facilities in the borough.

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Parent and Toddler Groups

A Parent and Toddler Group is a great place for parents, carers and their children to gather together and join in simple activities. They can provide company and support to adults and give children the opportunity to play alongside and with others. Parents and carers remain with and are responsible for their children throughout the session.

The cost varies from just a donation to cover refreshments to approximately £1.50.  Call the FIS for an up to date list, or for information if you want to set up a group! We have lists of various activities for pre school children too, such as musical groups, and gym clubs. Contact us for a copy of the local guide, CHIME, which contains lots of useful help and information about activities for families in the area. Some toddler groups, have given us permission to put information on our pages at http://www.childcarelink.gov.uk/

Choosing a pre school nursery

The Royal Borough Early Years and Childcare Service has produced a Directory of Early Years and Childcare Providers in the area. If your child is about 2 years old, it contains lots of information to guide you. Call FIS on 01628 507587 and ask for a parent pack. You can also find details of providers on http://www.childcarelink.gov.uk/.

Pre school playgroups, nursery schools or classes provide sessional day care, under 4 hours for children aged 2 1/2 to 5 years, during term time. Children may attend mornings or afternoons, or both.  Some schools offer school holiday sessions too. They offer a wide range of supervised play and learning  and parents and carers can stay if they wish. All are regulated by OFSTED.

Pre schools and nurseries are run by trained professionals, and may be independent schools, private companies, or operate as a voluntary body. Voluntary providers are non profit making, and are run by parent committee. The providers may belong to the Pre School Learning Alliance. All are registered by OFSTED and provide some term time free sessions to all children aged 3 to 5 years for Foundation Stage Education, made available through the local authority nursery education funding.

Montessori Schools

We are often asked about Montessori schools. There are eleven Montessori schools in the borough, seven in the Maidenhead area, and four in the area of Datchet and Windsor. If you'd like some clear explanations about the principles and teaching methods follow the link below. Contact us by phone and we can send you the information by post. http://www.montessorimagazine.com/Parents3.htm

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Foundation Stage

Early education takes place before and after children reach statutory school age. Children aged 3 to 5 years are in the Foundation Stage of early education and may attend maintained, private, voluntary or independent settings. This includes private day nurseries, maintained nursery schools, and classes, and pre schools. The Foundation Stage enables children to learn through first hand experience whilst placing great importance on their personal, social and emotional development. Further information can be found on http://www.dfes.gov.uk/. and http://www.qca.org.uk/

Nursery Education Funding 

Funding is available for all 3 and 4 year olds attending a setting registered within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead to deliver Early Years Education. Each eligible child is entitled to five 2.5 hour sessions per week for 38 weeks, spread over 3 terms of the year. This can start in the term after a child's third birthday.

Contact FIS for a leaflet about Nursery Education Funding, or ask for our parent pack, the Directory of Early Years and Childcare Providers.

After School Clubs, Out of school Care, and Holiday schemes 

Safe care for children is also provided as Out of School Clubs or Breakfast Clubs on school premises, or at community centres. These are also registered by OFSTED. Some also operate holiday playschemes for children aged 4-12. They are staffed to ensure children can be safely looked after, catering for working parents who need to drop off children early or collect late. Call FIS for a list of out of school provision, or visit http://www.childcarelink.gov.uk/

The government has recently published its 10 year strategy for childcare, including the aim of enabling a third of secondary schools to be open from 8am to 6pm by 2008, offering extended services. It is envisaged that extended school services will provide extra childcare or activities which will help working parents. Plans are underway for extended schools in clusters in the Dedworth area of Windsor, and in Maidenhead around the area of Ellington and Desborough.

Holiday Activities

FIS has a listing of activities and regularly update the holiday schemes and activity lists, including information about special needs provision. Follow the link to Sure Start for more information about special needs. Follow the link to Children's Holiday Activities for current schemes. You can also look on childcarelink for ideas for local activities in the area. Choose the link to Lesiure Activities for up to date listings http://www.childcarelink.gov.uk/whitebox/board.asp?cisid=5160

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Nannies and Au Pairs

An au pair helps a family with childcare and housework while staying as a guest, and usually receives a small allowance. Many au pairs are learning the host country language and will require time to attend college. An au pair is not a qualified nanny, and placements can be made via an au pair agencies. Call CIS for details about au pair agencies

Nannies

A nanny is employed by the parent or carer, and may or may not have nursery nurse qualifications. They are not registered, so the parent must take care to check credentials. CIS has lists of local nanny agencies.  There are useful tips from the Metropolitan Police Service on making a safe choice. http://www.met.police.uk/crimeprevention/nanny.htm 

The Childcare Approval Scheme started in April 2005. It enables nannies and others with childcare qualifications to be approved and for parents to be reassured of their validity. It will also allow for the childcare costs to be counted for the purpose of working tax credits, or to enable parents to use childcare vouchers. However, approved nannies must have a recognised childcare qualification, current first aid qualification and Criminal Records Bureau check. Call CIS for a leaflet or further information about childcare vouchers.

Babysitters

Choosing a babysitter?  What should a parent be aware of when choosing a babysitter? A babysitter should be aged at least 16. Parents and carers must note that by law they are responsible for their child up to the age of 16. Click on the following link for information from the NSPCC  about leaving a responsible 14 year old home alone, or even at home with younger children.  http://www.nspcc.org.uk/html/home/needadvice/childrenathomealone.htm

There is no law which states the minimum age that a child can be left alone but it is an offence to leave a child alone when doing so puts the child at risk. The NSPCC recommend that most children under 13 should not be left for more than a short period and that no child under 16 should be left overnight. They suggest that parents consider the following before deciding to leave a child alone:

  • the age of the child
  • the child's level of maturity and understanding
  • the place where the child will be left
  • how long the child will be left alone, and how often
  • whether or not there are any other children in the household

The NSPCC also list the following key  points:

  • Leave a contact number and address
  • Instruct the child not to open the door to strangers
  • Make sure they can cope in the event of a fire or emergency
  • Leave a list of trusted people, such as neighbours, or relatives to contact
  • Make sure that any dangers are removed – matches, chemicals and medicines, or tools
  • Make sure the child/children are confident to be left
  • Be back on time and never leave children alone overnight .

Call FIS for a list of local babysitting agencies or follow the links below. We cannot make recommendations but some agencies have qualified staff and registered childminders on their contact lists . Examples are  http://www.babysitters.co.uk/   or   http://www.sitters.co.uk/ 

The Red Cross runs babysitting courses for children from 14 years. Contact FIS for details.

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