Day nurseries A day nursery can care for your child all day, either full time or part time. It's usually open from about 8am to 7pm and provides both care and education for your child in suitable surroundings. The downside is it can be a very expensive option.

In this article

What's a day nursery? Ages covered

Pros Cons

Typical costs How to find a day nursery

A day nursery has to be registered with the Government regulatory bodies and is inspected every year. At least half the staff must be qualified in an early years discipline.

Day nurseries vary in size, but most take between 25 and 40 children. Children are usually grouped together according to age and will almost certainly follow a Government-approved early years curriculum.

There are different types of day nursery, including:

• Private - independent businesses providing full daycare.
• Community - provide full daycare and are run on a not-for-profit basis for local families, so fees are generally lower than private nurseries. Some may operate a sliding scale fee scheme, where parents pay different rates according to their circumstances.
• Workplace - linked to specific employers who offer places to their staff.
• Local authority - mainly cater for families who need support. Places may be free. They're usually open from 9am to 3pm.

Children up to five, although a few will take children up to eight. Some day nurseries will take babies from as young as six weeks, but others start at different ages.

The child/staff ratios for different age groups are as follows:

• children under two: 3:1. Provision will be made for extra staff if necessary, such as when there are a lot of younger babies on the premises, when it might be necessary to have a ratio of 2:1
• two-year-olds: 4:1
• three- to seven-year-olds: 8:1

• A day nursery will be registered and inspected regularly
• It's set up for the safety, care and education of young children
• It will probably fit in well with your work or study hours
• It's usually open all year (although some close for short periods)
• Your child will be cared for by experienced carers
• Your child will have an appropriate and structured learning programme
• Your child will be among children of her own age

• Your child may be cared for by several carers, although most nurseries operate a 'key worker' system, whereby each child is assigned to a particular member of staff
• Your child won't be in her own home
• The hours may not be as flexible as you need, for instance if you do night shifts
• The fees may be high, although support to pay fees may be available through the Working Tax Credit, depending on your income - and you may be eligible for a free part-time place if your child is three or four years old
• Waiting lists can be long, especially for popular nurseries
• You and your child may have to travel some distance
• The staff won't be able to care for your child if she's ill

Local authority nurseries are often free, or meal-charge only, but places in these are usually only available on referral.

For other day nurseries, fees vary. Average fees in England for a full-time nursery place for a child under two are £152 a week and £205 a week in central London - although some charge considerably more.

ChildcareLink
A Government service that provides information and advice on childcare.
Freephone: 0800 096 0296
Website: www.childcarelink.gov.uk

Parents in Northern Ireland should contact
Childcare Advice & Information Helpline
Freephone/text: 0800 028 3008
Website: www.employersforchildcare.org

Your local phone book will list local day nurseries.

Your health visitor, doctor or the nurse at your GP's surgery may have useful information

Your employer- ask if your firm has a workplace nursery.

Other parents - nothing beats a personal recommendation; ask other parents if they know of a good local day nursery.

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