Choosing the right childcare

If possible, visit different types of childcare, such as nurseries and childminders, to compare them. Try to schedule a visit on a typical working day and take your child along to see how they respond to the environment. Prepare a list of questions in advance and don't hesitate to ask plenty during your visit. Take your time with the decision - feel free to visit a provider more than once if needed - before making your final choice

First impressions count – ask yourself these questions:

• Are you and your child made to feel welcome and does the setting have a friendly feel?
• Are children having fun and do they look happy - will your child be happy and settled there?
• Are there children of your child’s age?
• Are the carers talking to the children in a way that interests and encourages them?
• Are children able to choose what they do and enjoy free play and are the toys sufficiently varied?
• Is the equipment, like the toys and furniture, safe and of a sufficiently high standard?
• Do staff behave in an inclusive way towards all children, showing positive attitudes towards disability, gender and cultural difference?

Questions to ask the childcare provider:

• How will you find out what your child has been doing and learning about each day?
• Who will your child's Key Person be and will you be able to meet with them prior to your child starting?
• Check staffing ratios, ratios vary depending on the type of childcare setting and the age range of the children being cared for.
• What qualifications and training do the staff have?
• How will the day be structured and can they follow routines started at home?
• How do staff manage behaviour?
• Is food provided and if so, is a healthy, balanced diet on offer and have staff been trained in food hygiene?
• Can they cater for any special dietary needs/allergies and what procedures are in place to manage this?
• How and when can children access fresh drinking water?
• What is the settling in policy and how is it adapted to meet your child's needs?
• What are the sleeping arrangements and how are sleeping children monitored?

Other questions to ask yourself or the childcare provider to keep your child safe:

• What policies and procedures are in place to keep children safe?
• Can children play outside safely and securely, is there enough room for children to be active indoors, are there places where the children can rest?
• How are risks (for example equipment, environment, trips out) assessed and managed?
• The certificate of Ofsted registration (if required) should be on display, as well as a certificate of insurance.
• What happens in an emergency for example fire drills, evacuations, what precautions have been put into place in order to deal with them?
• Are the premises secure, do they have visitor control systems in place, check the number of staff, is it appropriate for the number of children, ask about qualifications and training?
• What are the procedures for safe recruitment and have all members of staff had a criminal records check?
• Are staff trained in paediatric first aid and your child's safety should be top priority?

Contracts and payments should always be agreed in advance and you will need to consider:

• Will you need to pay a deposit or retainer?
• How and when are you expected to pay?
• Will there be additional charges for example for late pickups, snacks, nappies, meals, school pickups?
• Will you pay if your child is absent due to illness or holiday or bank holidays?
• If using a childminder, what will happen if the childminder is sick or on holiday?
• What is the notice period for changing hours or leaving and is this the same notice period that the childcare provider would give you?
• If you plan to use employer supported childcare vouchers, are they happy to accept them?
• Ensure you have a written contract detailing this information, which you can refer back to at a later date if necessary.

There are a number of different factors that determine whether or not a childcare provider is required to be registered with Ofsted. A certificate of registration should be on display at the childcare setting when you visit.

Ofsted carries out inspections to check the quality of the care provided. They then produce inspection reports detailing their findings. You can use these reports to help you decide which providers to visit, to confirm what you found as a result of the visit, or as a result of a recommendation by someone else. Inspection reports give you information about what the inspector found on the day of the inspection.

All reports include grades on the quality of provision and things the childcare provider can do to improve. When you visit, you can check what the provider has done. It is also important to check the date of the last Ofsted inspection as it is possible that things may have changed.

Information on Ofsted registered childcare, including inspection reports can be found on the Ofsted website - Find an inspection report.

If you need to complain about an early years setting or childcare provider, you should approach them directly. All early years settings (including childminders) must set up a complaints procedure.

Contact Ofsted if you feel your complaint was not resolved or if you think Ofsted need to be made aware of it. Visit the government's GOV.UK website and go to the Complain about an early years provider section.