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What are the different types of childcare available?

Definitions of the different types of childcare available:

Day nurseries

• look after children under 5 years of age, for the full length of the adult working day;
• ideal for working parents;
• children attend full or part time;
• registered with OFSTED.

Pre-school playgroups

• provide sessional care for children aged between 2½ and 5;
• morning or afternoon sessions;
• registered with OFSTED.

Crèches

• provide occasional care for children under 8 on more than five days a year;
• registered with OFSTED where they are run for a total of more than two hours a day.

Nursery units of independent schools

• are integral parts of an independent school and provide for early access to the school.
• children usually attend part-time.

Maintained nursery classes

• are integral parts of primary schools;
• open during the normal school day;
• majority of children attend part-time, usually five mornings or five afternoons a week.

Childminders

• look after children from birth upwards;
• look after children for the full length of the adult working day;
• ideal for working parents; 
• children can be looked after full or part time;
• parents and childminders negotiate terms and conditions;
• registered with OFSTED.

Carers in the child’s home

• a nanny or au pair can look after the child or children in the child's home;
• a private arrangement, like childminding, with both parties agreeing terms and conditions;
• nannies and au pairs are not registered childcare providers, but they can become approved.

Out-of-school-clubs

• offer care for the school-age child from the end of the school day;
• may offer care before school starts;
• may offer collection for children from different schools;
• children will be escorted to the club by a responsible person and not allowed to leave until collected by the parent or person who has parental responsibility or who is looking after the child;
• registered with OFSTED.

Holiday schemes

• look after children of school age during school holidays;
• some operate throughout the school holidays, while others only operate during the summer holidays;
• are registered with OFSTED.