CHOOSING-CHILDCARE-SAMPLE-v1a

Returning to work or study
There are also commercial websites to help you find the right childcare
provider, such as: www.childcare.co.uk
But will a nursery, registered childminder, nanny, au pair or relatives
provide the best sort of childcare for your family? The remaining chapters
of this book will help you make up your mind.
When to start your search
It’s sensible to start thinking about childcare as early as possible. Some
providers get booked up many months in advance, and your colleagues
may be a useful source of information before you start maternity or
paternity leave. That said, when you’re pregnant or in the bewildering
newborn days, it’s impossible to imagine how you will feel about returning
to work and leaving your baby with someone else once he or she is a few
months old.
If you know that the childcarer you have in mind is particularly
sought-after, you might want to approach them when (or even before)
your baby is born. You may be able to register your interest or put your
child’s name on their waiting list (often for a fee), and then sort out the
precise days and hours of care you need at a later date.
Generally, though, it’s fine to start looking in earnest once you have a
clear idea of when you will be returning to your job or studies and what
you and your partner’s working pattern will be. Ideally, this should be
three to six months before you want the childcare arrangement to start.
Don’t panic if you have less time than this though, as childcare providers
sometimes have vacancies at short notice, and there may be newly
registered providers with places.
There are certain times of year when childcarers are more likely to
have vacancies – notably September, when a new batch of children starts
primary school, and also after the Christmas and Easter holidays, when
some children start preschool.
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