How
do I find childcare that meets my
needs?
First ask yourself 'what
are my needs?' Write down:
- The times that you would like the childcare.
This may depend on your working hours.
- If you want childcare near your home, or your
child's intended school, or if you want it near where you work or
study.
- What sort of person you want to look after your
child - what you expect them to be like and what you would like to
find out about them
- What sort of place you want them to be in -,
someone else's home, in a shared building or a purpose-built
building.
- If your child is old enough ask her or his
opinion.
What do I look
for?
Then find out what sort of
childcare might meet your needs and wishes.
Click here for a list of the types of
childcare you could choose from. Ask
yourself:
- Which meets my needs most closely?
- Which would meet the particular needs of my
child?
- Which do I feel most comfortable
about?
What are the key ingredients of
good childcare?
No matter what type of childcare you consider, look
for these four basic ingredients:
- a safe, environment where you child can learn
through play;
- the opportunity for your child to form stable
relationships with caring adults and other children;
- adequate stimulation that is appropriate to your
child's age; and
- an enjoyable experience for you
child.
How do I find
childcare?
Once you have narrowed your search down to one or
two types of provider find out if there are any in your area. Or
you can search for childcare on line now at:
www.parents.info/suffolk
Or alternatively call the Suffolk Families
Information Service on 0845 60 800 33 and talk to one of our
operators. They will give you free independent advice
How should I contact
a childcare provider?
Once you
have contact details of some childcare providers give them a call.
Sounds simple - but this can be the hardest bit for some parents:
Have a
list of questions to ask the childcare provider beside you when
you make the first phone call. Think about:
- How you introduce yourself?
- The most important things you want to ask
them?
- What questions you will ask about money and how
much you will have to pay.
- What else you want to know before you decide to
visit them.
These questions concern most parents and the best
advice is to be prepared. The most important thing to do is to
arrange to visit the childcare provider.
How do
I arrange to visit a childcare provider?
Once you have contacted a few childcare providers
arrange to visit two or three that you like best.
The most important thing is to take your child with you. You are
going to trust someone with your child's well-being and you need to
know what they are like, if they measure up to your standards and
if you can see your child being happy with them.
It is only by visiting and comparing different providers that you
will be able to make a good choice.
What if they don't
want me to visit?
If a
childcare provider does not seem keen for you to visit, please
phone the Suffolk Families Information Service on 0845 60 800
33 so we can understand why.
Any suitable childcare provider will expect you to check them
out.