Finding childcare
Searching for the right childcare to suit your needs, can take some time. Many parents begin before the birth of their child or as soon as they are born.
There is a wide range of different types of childcare available across Lincolnshire, including:
- nurseries
- childminders
- pre-schools
- holiday clubs
- wraparound care
- home based child carers
- school based nurseries
Choosing childcare is down to personal preference, budget, the age and needs of your child, and availability. Some settings deliver childcare during the school term, and some offer all year round care.
We recommend you visit different settings to see what they have to offer and review their terms and conditions, including fee structure, to make an informed choice.
Don’t delay looking for a childcare setting that meets your needs.
The Lincolnshire Family Service Directory is a great place to search for suitable childcare in your area.
If you are struggling to find childcare, you can complete this form to inform us of the gaps.
Support with childcare costs
Many families are eligible for support with the cost of childcare. Parents can visit the Best Start in Life parent hub, to see what is available and use the eligibility checker to find out what they are entitled to.
Funded childcare is available from the term after the child reaches the age of eligibility, with a valid eligibility code.
Types of childcare
Childminder
Childminders are self-employed childcare professionals working in their own home or from non-domestic premises. They can care for children of any age but only up to six children under 8.
Childminders deliver high quality childcare in accordance with the Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework (EYFS). Ofsted inspects and regulates childminders.
They may offer funded childcare places for children from 9 months to school age.
Each childminder may offer flexible opening times, often including evening or even overnight care. Some childminders offer wraparound care and can drop off and collect from local schools.
Day nursery
Day nurseries provide day care for children aged 0 to 5 years.
Nurseries deliver high quality childcare in accordance with the Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework (EYFS). Ofsted inspects and regulates day nurseries.
Nurseries normally have separate rooms for different age groups of children; each containing age-appropriate toys, equipment and learning opportunities.
Day nurseries can offer funded childcare places for children from 9 months to school age.
School based nursery
In many areas, nursery provision is available within a school setting within an infant, primary or academy school and offer funded early education sessions.
School based nurseries offer high quality childcare in accordance with the Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework (EYFS). Ofsted inspects and regulates school based nurseries.
Nurseries normally have separate classrooms for different age groups of children; each containing age-appropriate toys, equipment and teaching.
School based nurseries are normally available term time only from age 2 upwards. Although, many are now expanding their offering to include babies and holiday care.
Search for maintained nursery schools and classes.
Breakfast and after-school clubs
Some schools run breakfast clubs and after-school clubs. These can be provided by external organisations, on or away from the school premises.
Some are only available for children who attended the school. Others are available to all children in the community and have arrangements with schools for picking the children up.
Search for after school clubs.
Holiday club
Holiday clubs offer school-age children a fun environment during the school holidays. Schools run holiday clubs on site.
Home Based Child Carers (Nannies)
Nannies can look after children in the family home and can work around shift patterns and unusual hours.
Some nannies live in with the family and may pick up other tasks, such as cooking and cleaning, by arrangement.
Nannies do not need to register with Ofsted. They can register on the Ofsted voluntary registry to allow families to take advantage of tax credits.
Funded childcare is not available through a nanny.
Crèche
A crèche provides occasional care for children under 8 for no more than two hours per day.
Some are on permanent premises to care for children whilst parents are doing other activities. Some run temporarily when a particular one-off event is happening.
How to choose
It's essential that you research different types of childcare to see what would best suit you and your child.
Children find it hard to adjust to frequent disruptions in their childcare. It helps to think about:
- what kind of setting you want your child in. A home-based setting where adult ratios to children are a lot smaller? A bigger setting where there are more children within their age range?
- the hours you will need childcare for. Do you work standard work hours or irregular shifts?
- the location
- how much it costs. Some settings offer Government-funded places for certain entitlements
- do they have places for your child? Are they able to cater to your child's needs?
- your child's happiness and opportunities to develop
- the care your child will receive from the childcare provider
- if you can depend on the childcare provider
- your needs and your child's needs for the next few months and the longer term
Write a shortlist of childcare providers you would like to visit.
Visiting your shortlisted settings
Before you decide on a childcare provider, it is a good idea to visit your shortlisted settings. You may choose to see more than one setting and visit more than once to help you decide.
Think about taking your child with you to meet the childcare setting. You will be able to see:
- how they get on with other children
- how the child carer interacts with your child
Try visiting at a time when there will be children in the setting. Check to see if the other children seem happy and relaxed.
Ask other people who use the setting how they feel and how their child is getting on. The setting may be able to provide details of people who will be happy to talk to you.
When you visit a childcare provider, you may want to check:
- staff qualifications and how many children they supervise
- how they will prepare for your child
- how safe and secure the rooms and outdoor area are
- what plans they have for emergencies
- how they adapt play activities
- if the equipment is varied, high quality and creative
- if the children seem happy and interested in what they're doing
- how they promote positive behaviour
- how they update you about your child's day and what they learnt
- how you can raise issues and concerns
- what food they provide
- how they work with other professionals and your child
Do not be afraid to ask about fees and payments, including deposits and sibling discounts.
If your employer offers a childcare voucher scheme via your salary, let the child carer know. It is free for them to sign up to your employer's scheme. They can sign up to as many as they choose.