Choosing Childcare - a guide for parents and providers

Many children in England have been in non-parental care of some sort before starting school. Although some believe that young children are better off at home, experts argue that it does not matter where a child is, as long as they receive good quality stimulating care. This work is aimed at both providers of childcare services and those planning to use, or already using some form of childcare. Divided into three parts, topics covered include the different types of childcare service, the different needs of parents, children and childcare providers, choosing the best type of care for your child, and how the law tries to ensure that parents and children obtain good childcare. The second section describes 13 significant features of childcare that can help you to decide if a nursery or childminder is offering a good quality service. The third section discusses the practical problems of finding childcare, where to find good childminders and nurseries, how to choose a place that suits you and your child, and how to make the arrangment work.