Choosing childcare as a new parent can feel overwhelming. Here’s a summary of the different options available to help you find what works best for your family and budget.
What’s in this guide
- Using a registered childminder
- Choosing a day nursery
- Using a playgroup or pre-school
- A Sure Start Children’s Centre
- Nursery school
- What childcare options do I have if my child has a disability?
- Plan ahead for closure or sick days
- Relying on family or friends
- At home childcare
- Help with childcare costs
- Choosing the right childcare option
Using a registered childminder
Childcare costs
The cost of childcare will depend on the option you choose and where you live. For a rough idea of childcare costs, see our guide Average childcare costs.
Someone who looks after children in their own home and is registered with one of the following in:
- England: Ofsted
- Scotland: Care Inspectorate
- Wales: Care and Social Services Inspectorate
- Northern Ireland: Health and Social Care Trust
Pros
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They’re self-employed, so you don’t have to worry about paying their tax or National Insurance (NI) contributions.
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As long as they’re registered or approved, you might be eligible for help to pay for your childcare using Tax-Free Childcare. If you’re eligible for Universal Credit, you might be able to claim back up to 85% of the monthly childcare.
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Many childminders work flexible hours and pick up/drop off children at school or playgroup.
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You can use your free childcare hours if you’re eligible.
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Some childminders will still be open during school holidays and may be able to take young children who are not yet in formal education.
Cons
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You’ll need to make other arrangements if the childminder is ill or on holiday.
Find a registered childminder on GOV.UK
Choosing a day nursery
Day nurseries offer care and education for children aged six weeks to five years.
They might be run privately or by community organisations, local authorities or employers.
Pros
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They’re usually open weekdays from 8am to 6pm, which fits most working hours.
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Nursery fees are sometimes subsidised by local authorities or employers.
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You can use your free childcare hours if you’re eligible. Find out more in our guide Help with childcare costs.
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As long as they’re registered or approved, you might be eligible for help to pay for your childcare using Tax-Free Childcare. If you’re eligible for Universal Credit, you might be able to claim back up to 85% of the monthly childcare.
Cons
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They’re usually more expensive than childminders.
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You usually must pay the fees when you’re on holiday.
Using a playgroup or pre-school
What is it?
Community and voluntary-run care and education sessions for three to five-year-olds.
They usually offer a three-hour morning or afternoon sessions during term time.
Pros
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A low-cost option.
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You can use your 15-30 hours free weekly childcare allowance if your child is eligible.
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As long as they’re registered or approved, you might be eligible for help to pay for your childcare using Tax-Free Childcare. If you’re eligible for Universal Credit, you might be able to claim back up to 85% of the monthly childcare.
Cons
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You’ll need to find alternative childcare to cover the school holidays and/or the rest of the day.
To help parents and carers who work (or want to work), the government will fund schools and local authorities to increase the care they can provide, so all school-age parents and carers can drop their children off from 8am and pick them up around 6pm.
Find a local playgroup or pre-school on GOV.UK
A Sure Start Children’s Centre
Pros
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A low-cost option – many of the services are free.
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Because they’re a ‘one-stop shop’, you can also get advice on other things – for example, training and job opportunities.
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You can use your free childcare hours if your child is three or four. if your child is three or four.
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As long as they’re registered or approved, you might be eligible for help to pay for your childcare using Tax-Free Childcare. If you’re eligible for Universal Credit, you might be able to claim back up to 85% of the monthly childcare.
Cons
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Not all centres allow you to leave your child there all day.
Find a Sure Start Children’s CentreOpens in a new window on GOV.UK
Nursery school
An introduction to primary education for three to five-year-olds. They’re often attached to a pre-school or primary school. Open during school hours in term time.
Pros
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They’re usually free if attached to a primary school.
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Your child will be taught by qualified teachers.
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You can use your free childcare hours if you’re eligible.
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As long as they’re registered or approved, you might be eligible for help to pay for your childcare using Tax-Free Childcare. If you’re eligible for Universal Credit, you might be able to claim back up to 85% of the monthly childcare.
Cons
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You’ll need to find alternative childcare to cover the school holidays.
Find a local nursery school placeOpens in a new window on GOV.UK
What childcare options do I have if my child has a disability?
If your child has a disability or special educational needs (SEN), you still have a range of childcare options.
All Ofsted-registered settings in England, like nurseries and pre-schools, are required to support children with SEN. It’s a good idea to speak directly with your chosen provider to understand what support they can offer and how they can meet your child’s needs.
In England, Coram has a helpful and detailed guide for parentsOpens in a new window that explains your rights and options.
If you live in Wales, your local Family Information ServiceOpens in a new window can give you more details.
In Scotland, you can find support and guidanceOpens in a new window on disabilityscot.
In Northern Ireland, visit nidirect for information on childcare for children with disabilitiesOpens in a new window
Having the right information and support can make a big difference, so it’s worth exploring your options early.
Plan ahead for closure or sick days
Even if you have regular childcare, there will be times when it’s not available, like teacher training days, illness, holidays or last-minute closures.
These gaps can catch you off guard, so it helps to try to plan ahead. You could ask a family member or friend to help, arrange a backup with another parent, or plan to take a day off work if needed.
Having something in place can make things much easier when the unexpected happens.
Relying on family or friends
There’s the option of having a family member or friend look after your child. This can be for free, payment or an arrangement where you look after each other’s children – this is called ‘reciprocal childcare’.
This might seem like a convenient and affordable option – but the rules around these arrangements can be complicated.
Pros
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A family member doesn’t have to be registered with Ofsted if they’re providing free childcare.
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People who look after their grandchildren to allow the children’s parents (or carers) to go out and work could be entitled to Specified Adult Childcare credits – a benefit to increase their future state pension.
Cons
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Legally, you can’t use a friend to regularly look after a child under eight years for more than two hours a day during normal working hours unless they’re a registered childminder. This is something to think about if you have a reciprocal childcare arrangement.
Find out more about the rules around informal childcareOpens in a new window on Netmums
Specified Adult Childcare credits
This scheme is aimed at family members – usually grandparents – who stop work to help look after a child.
They might benefit from it if they haven’t built up enough National Insurance (NI) contributions to qualify for the full state pension.
The carer might be eligible if they’re:
- over 16, but below State Pension age
- related to the child. Grandparents are the most common carers, but any family member can claim.
To be eligible, the child needs to be under 12 years old and the:
- parent (or main carer) is entitled to Child Benefit
- parent has a qualifying year of NI contributions they’re willing to transfer to the carer
- parent (or main carer) agrees to the application. You might not agree if, for example, you’re not returning to work and need the NI contributions.
Find out more about your eligibility and how to applyOpens in a new window on GOV.UK
Applications for a particular tax year cannot be made until the following October. This allows NI records to be up to date for the previous tax year.
To make a claim download an application formOpens in a new window on GOV.UK
At home childcare
Employing a nanny
Someone who looks after a child in the child’s own home. It’s usually a live-in or daily role, but part-time nannies are also available.
Nannies can voluntarily register with Ofsted.
Pros
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Your child is cared for at home.
Cons
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You’ll be their employer, and responsible for paying their Income Tax and NI contributions.
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As an employer, automatic enrolment means you’ll have to pay into a pension for your nanny if they are at least 22 and earn more than £192 a week (£833 a month) before tax. Find out more information about the duties as an employer from The Pensions RegulatorOpens in a new window
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You’ll need to make other arrangements if they’re ill or on holiday.
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As long as they’re approved and registered with Ofsted, you might be eligible for help to pay for your childcare using Tax-Free Childcare.
A live-in au pair
Someone who lives with you and learns the local language and culture while providing around 30 hours’ childcare and help around the home.
Pros
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They should be paid National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage.
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They’re usually treated like a member of the family rather than an employee, so you won’t have to deal with their tax or NI.
Cons
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You’ll need to factor in the cost of their room and board on top of what you pay them.
Find out more about employing an au pairOpens in a new window on GOV.UK.
Help with childcare costs
Remember, it’s never too early to start planning for the cost of childcare.
You don’t need to be on a low income to get help with childcare costs. Help is available for many families. This can include things like breakfast clubs, wraparound care (before and after school), nurseries and childminders.
There are lots of places to get help, including Tax-Free Childcare, Universal credit and free childcare hours depending on where you live and your child’s age.
Find out more in our guide Help with childcare costs
Choosing the right childcare option
Demand for childcare places is high, so it’s never too early to start researching your options.
There are different types of childcare available including nurseries, childminders, playgroups and crèches. Crèches offer limited-duration, occasional care, often found in places like gyms, workplaces or shopping centres, but not all are Ofsted registered.
Childcare costs vary depending on where you live, so it’s a good idea to find out what you can expect to pay in your area.
Costs vary a lot depending on where you live, so it’s a good idea to find out what you can expect to pay in your area.
For UK and London averages, see our guide Average childcare costs.
You can work out whether the childcare you want is affordable by comparing the costs with your disposable income after essential outgoings.
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