You can read Suffolk County Council's statement on our website.
![Councillor Peter Gould](/image-library/peter-gould-ws-hr-1.xb6cb8b20.jpg?width=470&height=256&fit=crop&quality=75&format=webp)
You can read Suffolk County Council's statement on our website.
To find childcare providers in your area you can:
Don't just choose the first one that seems okay. Visit two or three childcare providers. Compare them with each other and with your list of what you need and want. Trust your instincts too. Don't choose anyone that you don't feel completely confident about. Your child's opinion counts for a lot, even young children can make their feelings felt.
You should make sure that the provider is registered by Ofsted (the Office for Standards in Education). You may also want to ask for references on the childcare provision - for example, you could ask them to put you in touch with a parent who uses their service. This is really important as a check that other people are happy about the childcare provider -anyone who is confident about the quality of their service will not refuse. If they refuse to provide references just ask yourself 'why?'
If none of these providers matched up to your wishes, look again. Your child deserves good quality care. Phone the Suffolk Family Information Service on 0345 60 800 33 for further assistance.
Get in touch with the childcare provider you have chosen and book a place for your child. You will need to then sort out some paperwork with them. Make sure that you follow up those references. And remember it is important to keep checking your child is happy with your childcare provider.
If, at any time, you have any concerns about your childcare provider then contact the Suffolk Family Information Service.
Your aim is to find out if they can provide the sort of care that you want your child to have, and that it meets your needs. The key points are:
Explain that you would like to ask a few questions. Ask them:
After checking that they can meet your needs, the most useful thing that you are doing is finding out as much as you can by talking with them, seeing what they are offering children and asking questions.
Good quality childcare providers will be happy for you to ask questions and to allow you to come and visit them, to see what they do. They will appear knowledgeable, confident and, above all, welcoming. After speaking to them consider the following:
If you are a parent struggling to find suitable childcare in your area you should contact the Suffolk Family Information Service helpline to see if you should be referred to our Childcare Brokerage Service.
Childcare brokerage is a requirement of Childcare Act 2006, which means local authorities must provide extra support for families to help them access childcare and other support services. The Childcare Brokerage Service is provided by Suffolk County Council's Early Years and Childcare Service.
The type of help offered depends on the families individual circumstances, but childcare brokerage can help parents and carers to:
Families can be referred to this service by a professional or parents can call the Suffolk Family Information Service helpline on 0345 60 800 33 to discuss if they should be referred to the childcare brokerage service.
Complete the short form below to tell us what childcare you are struggling to find. Sometimes the childcare may not be available in a particular area, or all the childcare places in the area are full.
If forms are returned by a number of parents wanting childcare it may be possible for us to help an organisation open a new out of school club, nursery or pre-school or we may encourage people to become childminders in that area.
Please complete the form to let us know your childcare needs.