Choosing Childcare Top Tips

Childcare is one of the most fraught areas for mothers heading back to work after maternity leave or a career break. The media abounds with scare stories about childcare going wrong. The good news is that to balance all the scare stories there are equal amounts of stories showing research shows good quality childcare can help children get a good start in life. For many parents, though, childcare is not an option. It is what form it takes which presents the dilemma. 

Here child psychologist Amanda Gummer has some reassuring words. “There is no right or wrong type of childcare. Each parent must make an individual assessment of their situation, their needs (including the needs of the child), and the options available. Once you have done that, relax and enjoy the life you have chosen, and if it isn’t working, or your needs change, reassess the situation; nothing is set in stone.” 

So how do you begin the search for the right childcare and what are the options available?

1. Start your research of the childcare options in your area early – before the birth if you are only taking a short maternity leave as there are often long waiting lists at nurseries. Check your local children’s information service. In addition to providing a list of local childcare options, it also gives advice on what to look for and questions to ask when you are investigating the best childcare for your child. 

2. Talk to any other parents you know in the area to get their views, eg, at ante-natal clinics, NCT groups, etc. 

3. The main childcare options for very young children are nurseries, childminders and nannies. Find out all you can about them and the differences between them. Make sure you used a registered childminder. This will be important for claiming tax credits. Be clear about what you want from your childcare. Every parent has a different approach. Some prefer the set hours and structure of a nursery; others think the family atmosphere of a childminder will work best for their child and for them. It very much depends on your or your child’s needs, for instance, do your work hours vary so you are likely to need more flexibility or do you want to be sure your childcare will always be there no matter whether a staff member is off sick or not? Is your child fairly withdrawn or very sociable? What age are they going to start childcare? 

4. Go along and visit nurseries, talk to childminders and find out about nannies. Take a list of questions with you to ask. You might want to look at issues such as the ratio of children to adults, what kind of food is being provided, what kind of activities are on offer during the day, etc. The Daycare Trust has a list of useful information. 

5. Money is a big issue when choosing childcare. Childminders are generally cheaper than nurseries and certainly than full-time nannies. But you may be able to save by working flexibly and choosing childcare that works around your hours. Childminders tend to be more flexible than nurseries, but many nurseries now offer different combinations of hours, such as full days, half days and school days [9am-3pm]. It might also be possible to do a nanny share with another mum who is going back to work. Costs can also vary between childcare providers so it is worth shopping around. Look at whether you can get a relative to do a regular pick-up or a day a week of childcare. Your partner may also be able to work flexibly, for instance, compressed hours or working from home so they can take over the childcare. 

6. Financial help is available for childcare costs. Childcare is subsidised for three and four year olds in private, Ofsted-registered nurseries and there are free part-time places in state school nurseries. The latter tend to be half days, but some offer a full school day. There are also tax credits. These include:
child tax credit; working families tax credit; the childcare element of working families tax credit; disabled child’s premium. The amount of tax credits you get depends on things like how many children you have living with you, how many hours you work, if you pay for childcare, if you or any child living with you has a disability. More information: tax credits inland revenue

7. Your employer may also operate a voucher scheme so it is worth checking this out. Vouchers enable parents to pay for childcare out of their pre-tax and National Insurance income. Although your take home salary is slightly reduced you save hundreds of pounds on childcare costs so you end up better off. Both parents can claim vouchers, but they might affect your entitlement ot tax credits so you need to check whether you are better off getting vouchers or tax credits. 

8. Always remember to have an emergency back-up plan in case a childminder gets ill, for instance, or your own child gets sick. This could be a relative or friend. 

9. For older school-aged children, there are breakfast and after school clubs and holiday schemes. These are regulated by Ofsted and are offered by an increasing number of schools. Most before and after school clubs cover from 8am to 6pm. Many provide children with breakfast or an afternoon snack. Costs vary from region to region. The government wants all schools to offer extended services from 2010. Holiday playschemes [covering sport, art, drama, etc] usually operate along school hours. There are also private holiday playschemes available. These tend to cost more. They can opt to be part of the Ofsted Childcare Register. Places are often scarce, depending on the area you live in, so it is worth applying early 

10. Financial help is available for after school and holiday childcare. For parents in receipt of out-of-work benefits, or those studying, many local authority schemes offer concessionary prices, speak to your Family Information Service about what is on offer. For working parents, you may be able to claim for holiday and after school activities which are registered through tax credits, which are based on your income and the cost of your childcare. The system is complicated and you will not receive a lump sum at the beginning of the holidays, but a weekly award throughout the year. This is calculated by adding together the number of weeks you will be using childcare throughout the year, multiplied by the weekly cost, divided by 52 (weeks of the year).

By Mandy Garner, Editor at  WorkingMums.co.uk the UK’s number 1 jobsite for professional mothers.

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