Nurseries, Playgroups and Childminders

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Nurseries and Playgroups

Nurseries - provide childcare for the whole working day. They have to be registered with local authorites and must follow government guidlines for health and safety, the number of staff per child and faciliteis available.

Playgroups - these are for children between the ages of 2-5. Parents look after children and do educational acitivtes with them. Some staff must have formal trainaing. Playgroups are usually mornings only and do not open everyday (which may not suit a parents work).

Nursery School - state schools are free, but private ones cost money. Children from the age of 3 go 5 days a week. Reception classes are part of primary school (taking children aged 4 and 5; before they join Year 1 full-time).

Pros:

  • They allow children to intergrate with other kids.
  • Childcare is regualrly inspected by Ofsted.

Cons:

  • They dont look after children for the whole day.
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Childminders

Childminders look after children from home and are registered with the local authority by law. There may be home inspections and police checks. They are allowed to look after a small number of children, working flexible hours (allowing kids to recieve socialising oppurtunities - such as when going to the park). 

  • Nannies - legally reuired to have qualifcation .
  • Au pairs - foreign nannies who come to the UK to learn English. They help look after the house and kids in return for meals, rent free living and money. 
  • Relatives - this includes grandaprents; although this might cause tension between family members as they might have another idea of upbringing a child and parents may need to work out rules about payment. 

Pros:

  • Flexibiltiy - parents will be able to work (paritcularly if they have a live in nanny). 
  • They dont need to be reigstered with Ofsted (so parents must check backgrounds). 

Cons:

  • Live in nannies are expensive as parents have to pay tax as well as salary.
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