Today was the start of the school term, and of course Immy’s pre school term. Even though she is three in exactly three in three weeks time, we do not receive free early learning  until 1 April. So if your child is born on 1 January then you are  right royally stuffed.

Free early learning, for the non parents among you,  allows three and four year olds are  15 hours of free nursery education for 38 weeks of the year. This applies until they reach compulsory school age (the term following their fifth birthday). Free early education places are available at a range of early years settings including nursery schools and classes, children’s centres, day nurseries, play groups and pre-schools and childminders.

I could get a bit more miffed but hey, it’s only three months till we are finally able to start putting money in the pension again – I’m not kidding either. Childcare is like another mortgage. When I first started work we were paying £800 a month to a childminder. This went down when I went freelance to just over £250 a month. But then our income (and expenses) went down too.

Childcare – well organising care in lieu of myself or Andrew (or grandparents) is one of the most horrible things about being a paid working parent. Why pay someone to do something that you know you are better at, so you can go and do something you are also good at. And don’t say ‘because one is paid and one isn’t’ I know!
What does make it easier is knowing what your option are. So here goes:

Pre-schools and playgroups

Usually run by voluntary groups, pre-schools and playgroups provide part-time play and early learning for under fives. Typically they charge £4 to £7 per hour.

Day nurseries

Often based in workplaces and run by businesses or voluntary groups, day nurseries provide care and learning activities for children from birth to five years old.Day nurseries are usually open from 7.00 am to 7.00 pm, but hours may vary. You can send your child full or part time, and some offer early drop-offs or late pick-ups. Rates vary, but most day nurseries cost from £25 to £50 per day.

Childminders

Usually childminders look after children under 12 in the childminder’s own home. They can look after up to six children under eight years old, although no more than three of those must be aged under five. Generally, childminders work from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm, but most are flexible and some may be willing to work weekends. Depending on where you live and how many children are being looked after, childminders can cost between £2.50 and £7.50 per hour.

Nannies and home-based carers

Usually nannies will provide care for children in your home, and can look after children of any age. Many nannies live at home with the family they are working for, but whether they live in or not their hours are flexible. Nannies’ fees start at around £6.00 (£9.00 in London) per hour, but this tends to vary greatly. As your nanny’s employer, you will also have to pay their tax and national insurance contributions.

Sure Start Children’s Centres

You can find your nearest Sure Start Children’s Centre by contacting your local Families Information Service (FIS) on 0800 2 346 346, or by following the ‘Find a local Sure Start Children’s Centre’ link.Nurseries are usually open from 9.00 am to 3.30 pm in term time for full or half-day sessions. Some also offer care out of school hours and in the holidays.

Choosing a childminder:

• give yourself lots of time, as everything from holiday playschemes through to nurseries get booked up well in advance
• ask around, often word of mouth is better than any reference
• have options, whatever you choose it’s worth going back three or four different times to get a feel for how the staff
• what does your child want would they prefer one to one care or do are they sociable and like being with lots of other children?
• does the cost and do the hours, and holiday times, fit in with your needs?

What to look for

When visiting your child’s potential carer, spend some time finding out whether it had a friendly feel. Is the building light, is it clean and does it have room for children to do activities and places for them to rest. You should also consider the toys and activities on offer.

There are other things too, do the carers seem interested in the children and are they happy? Is the centre Ofsted registered and are there enough staff to keep an eye on all children; there must be at least one member of staff for every eight children aged three to five.

There should also be a written policy for parents to see.

What you should also ask/look out for the following (whatever option you choose):

• safety – what happens in an emergency?
• are the premises secure (can strangers get in)?
• what training and experience do the carers have?
• how does the provider report safety incidents to parents?
• do the carers know first aid?
• what is the staff’s view on discipline?
• what activities are on offer?
• what happens if you are late picking up your child?
• what food is provided (is it healthy)?
• who can you talk to about your child’s progress?
• what happens if your child becomes ill?

So how do I pay for it?

Taking out a second mortgage is one option but many employers now offer their employees help to pay for childcare, this can include:

• paying you cash to pay for childcare
• paying the childcare fees directly
• paying the child’s school fees

Should your employer offer any of the above, you will be liable for tax and national insurance contributions on whatever aid is given. There are other types of childcare support your employer could provide however, without you having to pay tax or national insurance contributions. These are:

• childcare vouchers
• directly contracted childcare
• workplace nurseries

Pre-school and beyond

As I wrote earlier all three and four-year olds are entitled to 15 hours of free nursery education for 38 weeks of the year.

According to figures published in 2007, the parents of more than a million children aged three and four were benefiting from free day care.

Most of these – around 700,000 – were enrolled in nursery or infant classes at state primary schools. A further 400,000 were left in subsidised private or voluntary nurseries and 37,900 were in independent schools.

When does your child qualify for a free place?

If born between 1 April and 31 August they benefit from 1 September after their third birthday or the beginning of the autumn school term.
If they were born between 1 September and 31 December they get free hours from 1 January following their third birthday or the beginning of the spring school term.

If born 1 January and 31 March they benefit from 1 April following their third birthday or the beginning of the summer school term.

Where can you get free childcare?

* Day nurseries, private nursery schools, maintained nursery schools and nursery classes attached to primary schools.

* Preschools and playgroups.

* Primary school reception classes, where schools operate an early admission policy to admit four year olds.

* Accredited childminders.

That’s all I can write for now, if you have any questions or things you think I should include let me know.

Sam x