Finding a childminder
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Welsh/Cymraeg
The best place to start is by asking people you know. Tell
colleagues, friends and family that you are looking for a
childminder. They may be able to recommend someone they know. But
stay focussed – at the end of the day it's your decision, and
what's right for your neighbour may not be right for you. Remember
to start early – some parents are lucky enough to find their ideal
childminder almost straight away – others take longer.
"We started looking for a childminder three months before I went
back to work. We were really lucky, because as soon as I walked
into Nicola's home I felt really comfortable, and she and Jasmine
clicked straight away. Knowing my daughter is safe and happy being
cared for by Nicola made it so much easier for me to return to
work." Mrs HC, Hertfordshire
Local knowledge
Your local Family Information Service (FIS) can give you a list
of registered childminders with places available. It may also have
extra information such as which schools and playgroups they can
drop off and pick up from or whether they have a garden or pets.
Find your local FIS by calling 0800 096 0296.
You could try speaking to your local school or children's centre
to see if they know of any childminders with vacancies. Many
schools and children's centres work closely with registered
childminders and have vacancy coordinators, helping match parents
with providers.
If you use childcare vouchers to pay for your childcare, you may
be able to access a list of registered childminders online. Parents
whose employers are signed up to the childcare voucher scheme
provided by care-4 can search online for registered childminders
near them by visiting www.childcareplaces.co.uk.
In an emergency
If you need childcare in an emergency, search for a childminder
at www.emergencychildcare.co.uk.
This site matches parents looking for childcare with NCMA members
close to them. Parents can be confident that all childminders
registered on the site at members of NCMA, and work to NCMA's
Quality Standards.
Online help
You can search for your nearest childminder using the National
Parent Know How Directory. This is an online directory offering
parents and those working with them the ability to search for
information about childcare and families services in both their
local community and nationally.
This can be accessed via the DirectGov
website or the Information for
Families website.
Both websites will provide the same information but the way it
is presented is different.