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The following types of provision are available:
All registered childcare providers are inspected periodically by Ofsted to ensure that they meet the National Standards for childcare.
You may wish to combine different types of childcare in order to help you to work or train. This is known as wraparound or extended childcare. For example, a child could attend a pre-school in the morning, then be collected from the pre-school by a childminder who would care for the child for the rest of the day. Or a child could be taken to and collected from school by a childminder during term time and attend a holiday playscheme during the holidays.
care for children under the age of 8 in their home for payment. Childminders provide a flexible form of childcare that fits the needs of working parents. They can take children to and from schools and nurseries, and often take children to group settings such as drop-ins where they can socialise with other children. To become a childminder no formal qualifications are necessary although it is expected that applicants have experience of caring for young children. Potential childminders must attend a pre-registration course and have completed a First Aid course within the first 6 months of childminding. Childminders can register for up to 6 children under 8 years old including no more than one under 12 months. This differs between childminders because a childminder's own children have to be taken into account. Childminders are self-employed therefore there is no national rate that they have to charge, although most charge around £120 per child for full-time care per week or on average around £4.60 - £6 per hour. Most childminders will provide childcare between the hours of 8am and 6pm. Some childminders will work early mornings, evenings and weekends as well.
The Family Information Service can give details about childminders, including the hours that they work, their cost, whether they collect from schools etc. Please contact the FIS for a complete list of registered childminders in your area. Many childminders can also be found on the ChildcareLink website.
Advantages of Childminders:
Crèches need to be registered with Ofsted if they provide occasional care for children aged under 8 years on particular premises for more than 5 days a year. They need to be registered if they are open for more than 2 hours a day; even when individual children attend for shorter periods. Most crèches are in permanent premises, such as supermarkets and leisure centres, and parents stay on the premises while the child is cared for in the crèche. Other crèches provide childcare at one-off events such as training courses.
The FIS can give details about crèches, such as opening times and costs. Please contact the FIS for a complete list of crèches in your area. Crèches can also be found on the ChildcareLink website
If you need the services of a mobile crèche at events such as weddings and training courses please contact the FIS for further details.
Advantages of using a Crèche:
Children aged 5-12 yrs can access a range of play and leisure activities after school and during the holidays. There are many play centres (sometimes called play projects or kid’s clubs) in Westminster where qualified playworkers provide children with sports, arts, music and other activities. A play centre must register with Ofsted as an out of school childcare provider if it provides activities for children under 8 years for more than 2 hours a day for more than 5 days a year. To view the National Standards for out of school childcare please visit the Ofsted website Opening times for play centres vary. They are usually open between 3.00pm and 6.00pm during term time, and 8.00am - 6.00pm during the school holidays.
The staff that work in play centres are usually called playworkers. Normally there is a Co-ordinator and a Deputy Co-ordinator who are qualified in playwork and aged 21 or over. There must be a staffing ratio of 1 playworker to every 8 children, and at least 2 workers on the premises at all times.
Please contact the Family Information Service for a complete list of play centres in your area, or visit the ChildcareLink website.
Advantages of using an out of school club:
Parent and toddler groups do not need to register with Ofsted because parents attend with their children. Parent and toddler groups usually operate in church halls, schools and community centres. They run for a couple of hours on one or two days per week. Parent and toddler groups offer a great opportunity for parents and children to socialise. The cost of attending a session is minimal, usually just covering the cost of refreshments.
Please contact the Family Information Service for a complete list of groups in your area.
Some pre-schools in Westminster can offer a funded early education place for 3 and 4 year olds if available. A place is 5 sessions of 2.5 hours per week during term time.
Contact the Family Information Service for more details of pre-schools in your area. Or search for pre-schools the ChildcareLink website
Advantages of using a pre-schools:
The number of places that a private day nursery can provide depends on the premises. The staff to child ratio is 1:8 for children aged 3-5; 1:4 for children aged 2 years and 1:3 for children aged under 2.
Contact the Family Information Service for details of day nurseries in your area including opening times, costs and the ages of children they are registered for. Many day nurseries in Westminster can also be found on the ChildcareLink website
Advantages of using a Day Nursery:
2008 Westminster City Council. Contact the Council
