Childcare for 0-5 year olds

The Family Information Service can provide contact details of child carers in your area. Contact the FIS on0800 195 1635 Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm for a list based on your personal requirements including opening hours and school collections, or go on-line at www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/fsd. Not all providers agree for their details to be available on this website so if you cannot find the details you are searching for please contact the FIS.

There are a number of options if you are looking for childcare for children under 5 years old and the care, unless you wish to use informal childcare such as a friend or a relative, should be registered. Registered childcare has been inspected by Ofsted to make sure it meets National Care Standards. The premises are also regularly inspected to ensure they are suitable and safe.

People working as registered child carers have to meet strict standards of care. They’re usually CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) checked.

If you use registered childcare, you can claim Tax Credits to help with childcare costs or may use Childcare Vouchers to pay for the care through salary sacrifice - see Financial Help.

The following types of childcare are usually registered:

Registered Childminders

Registered Childminders look after your children, along with others, in their own home. They usually look after children of any age.

Childminders can care for up to six children under 8 years old (including any of their own) at any one time. They can care for any number of children over the age of 8, providing the numbers don’t affect their ability to care for those under 8.

However, a childminder can only look after a set number of children from each age category. For example, a childminder is only allowed to care for one child under the age of 1 at any one time – though special permission can be given to care for twins etc.

The average cost of a childminder in Lincolnshire is around £3.20 per hour. This works out as between about £130 for a 40 hour week. Childminders are often able to offer more flexible care to deal with shift patterns, early mornings/late evenings, weekends and some are registered to offer overnight care.

Many childminders will also drop off and collect from local schools when your child gets older, and many will also take children to and from Early Years settings to allow children to access free Early Years Entitlement for 3 and 4 years olds.

Day Nurseries

Day Nurseries offer full care and education for children aged six weeks to five years.

Opening times vary but may be between 7.30am and 7pm. Your child can attend for full days or part-time sessions. Most Lincolnshire Day Nurseries are registered to offer Early Education Entitlement funding for 3 and 4 year olds.

Prices often vary depending on the age of your child. For a child under two attending nursery full-time, the average cost is around £150 per week.

Some Day Nurseries also operate out of school and holiday schemes for when your child gets older and, depending on their location, may drop off and collect from local schools.

Nursery Schools and Classes

Nursery Schools and Classes provide early education for children aged between three and five years and they’re open during term times from 9am to 3.30pm for full or half day sessions.

Sessions are usually free if they’re part of the state education system. Others may offer free part-time places for some 3 and 4 year olds under the Nursery Early Years Entitlement funding scheme.

Pre-Schools

Pre-Schools are available to children aged between 2 and 5 years. However, some don’t take children until they’re two and a half.

Pre-Schools offer sessions, varying from 2 ½ to 3 hours long, during term time. Some Pre-schools are open for extended hours which can be 9am to 3pm. Sessions usually cost between £6 and £8.

The majority of Lincolnshire Pre-Schools are registered to offer Early Years Entitlement funding for 3 and 4 year olds, which offers up to 15 hours of free Early Years care, for 38 weeks per year (term time).

Home Child carers

Home Child carers are employed by you to provide care in your home.

They are flexible and will fit in with unusual working hours. Some may do additional tasks around the house, such as cooking and laundry for the child, by arrangement.

As Nannies are usually unregistered, many have become Home Child carers so the family can claim childcare help through Tax Credits.

Home Child carers will normally have a recognised childcare qualification, and they are registered on the Ofsted Voluntary Childcare Register.

Wages range anywhere from £127 to £350 per week. This will depend on experience and hours worked. There may also be additional costs such as use of a car and accommodation if they are asked to live in with the family.

Children with disabilities

Many child carers offer care for children with disabilities and additional needs:

• Inclusive Childminders - this scheme has been developed by the National Childminding Association (NCMA) in Lincolnshire. It helps childminders and families through support and appropriate training.
• A number of services also offer support to daycare providers so they can offer an inclusive service to children.

Updated information

The Family Information Service send regular updates to all the county’s child carers to ask for up-to-date information on the services they offer, including opening times, school collection and charges, as well as whether they can care for a child with a disability or additional needs.

In addition, Ofsted send updated information on any newly registered or closed child carers so we have an accurate picture of care in the county. We need permission to share child carer’s details with enquirers and to add their details onto the internet.

Contact Details

Go to downloads tab for a list of NCMA development workers.