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. 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
- 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.