Choosing a place
If you require childcare you will want your child to be with someone you can trust. All children under the age of 8 needing childcare for more than two hours a day should be with a provider registered with Ofsted unless the care is provided by a close family member.
Before you enrol your child visit potential pre-schools, nurseries, childminders or schools with your child while other children are there.
Talk to friends and neighbours, ask them why they chose to send their child to a particular setting.
Think about the times you will need childcare, the costs, support you may get with the cost and what you can afford, the best location to avoid tiring journeys for yourself and your child and whether your child has dietary, physical, special, religious or cultural needs which need to be accommodated.
Remember you are looking for a warm welcome, a combination of care and education, enthusiastic adults, good resources and an approach that will meet the needs of your child.
Your choices
Nursery
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many nurseries care for babies
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some offer out of school clubs for school aged children
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1:2 to 1:8 adult:child ratio depending on child's age
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staff have, or are working towards, an early years qualification
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may offer sessional care as well as full day care
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likely to be open all year
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Free Entitlement hours available for 3 and 4 year olds
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other support with costs may be available
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inspected by Ofsted
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follow the Early Years Foundation Stage for 0-5s
Pre-school
- children usually attend from 2 or 2½ years of age
- 1:6 to 1:8 adult:child ratio
- staff have, or are working towards, an early years qualification
- sessional - usually term time only
- some offer lunch; some are open for school hours
- Free Entitlement hours available for 3 and 4 year olds
- other support with costs may be available
- inspected by Ofsted
- follow the Early Years Foundation Stage for 0-5s
Childminders
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can care for children of all ages
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maximum of 3 under 5s and 6 under 8s cared for
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may have an early years qualification
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times arranged by agreement
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usually all year apart from childminder's own holiday
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Free Entitlement hours available for 3 and 4 year olds if the childminder is accredited
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can take/collect from pre-school or school
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other support with costs may be available
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inspected by Ofsted
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follow the Early Years Foundation Stage for 0-5s
School Nursery class
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limited number in Wiltshire attached to schools
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admitted from September following the child's 3rd birthday
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1:13 adult:child ratio
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all staff have an early years qualification
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5 mornings or 5 afternoons per week - term time only
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free to parents
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inspected by Ofsted
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follow the Early Years Foundation Stage for 0-5s
Independent School
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may be admitted from 3 years - check school policy
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no set adult:child ratio
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no legal regulations about staff qualifications
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school hours and terms, usually shorter than state schools
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Free Entitlement hours available for 3 and 4 year olds in some schools
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fees charged
Nannies
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can care for children of all ages
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no set adult:child ratio
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may have an early years qualification
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available all year
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charges and terms negotiated between family and nanny or nanny agency
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may be registered on the Ofsted Voluntary Childcare Register
If you would like to discuss your choices further, please ring our lo-call helpline on 08457 585072
and talk to one of our Information Workers.
In addition to helping you reach the right decision for your family we can advise you about providers with current vacancies, providers with experience of caring for children with disabilities and those with special educational needs, providers who offer overnight and anti-social hours care, providers who collect from a particular pre-school or school and any other needs you may have.
