Looking for childcare for your little one, but have no idea where to start? From childminders to nurseries, here’s all you need to know about finding the right early years education for your child.

Choosing the right childcare is a big decision, especially when you have so many options to choose from. And you’ve probably got LOTS of questions: will my child be happy, what activities will they do and will I get feedback on how they are getting on?

You’re right to take your time because finding the right nanny, childminder, nursery or creche that works for your child (and you) can have massive benefits. One study found that spending time in childcare can boost your little one's social and emotional development. The researchers also found children who spent more time with childminders had fewer ‘emotional symptoms’ (in other words, they were less likey to be nervous, unhappy or worried.)

If you decide a childminder is the right option for your family, you can search for quality childminders near you through Ofsted-registered Childminder Agency tiney. All their childminders are vetted (including a home visit to make sure it’s just right for your little one) and they also receive over three months intensive training. 

Tiney even takes care of all the admin, including payments and bookings, so your childminder can focus on the most important thing: looking after your child.

Before you make up your mind, here’s our need-to-know guide to some of the most popular childcare choices.

1. Childminders: what you need to know

Want a family-style environment for your little one with just a few other children? Then a childminder could be the right option for you. 

Not only will your child learn through play (they’ll be doing everything from junk modelling to messy play), childminders will also take them out to local parks or fun forest school trips. 

And childminders are also a great option for even the littlest of kids: they can look after babies and kids up to eight. This makes them a great option if you have children of different ages.

PROS

• Childminders are DBS-checked and registered with Ofsted or with an Ofsted-registered childminder agency like tiney.
• They look after children in their own homes, which is super helpful if you are WFH due to Covid. Childminders who are registered with tiney are inspected once a year (compared to Ofsted who only inspect childminders every six years).
• They are first-aid and safeguarding trained.
• Childminders follow the EYFS curriculum, which means your little one will be school-ready.
• Unlike at a nursery, you can be flexible on the hours you want. 
• You can use your 15 or 30 hours free childcare with a childminder.

CONS

• A childminder’s home will be a much smaller setting than a nursery and means your child won’t have as many other kids to play with.
• They may not be open all year round. (Some childminders don’t work during the school holidays.)
• They might have a long waiting list, so you’ll need to get your name down early.

Nannies: what you need to know

If you want someone to look after your little one in your own home, then a nanny could be the childcare option for you.

If your little one is anxious about being apart from you, being in a familiar place could be helpful.

One thing to bear in mind though: a nanny is employed by you, so you’ll have to cover everything from their national insurance to maternity pay should they get pregnant.

PROS

• Nannies look after your kids in your home.
• They take your little ones to playgroups, parks and for walks.
• Your child will do lots of fun activities at home, including baking or colouring.
• Nannies will usually just look after your child or children.
• You can be more flexible on the hours you want than at a nursery.

CONS

• Unlike childminders, nannies don’t need to be registered with Ofsted. They also don’t need specific qualifications or experience.  
• Your child might not get to mix with other kids, unless you do a nanny share with another family. 
• If you work from home, it could be a distraction having a nanny.
• Nannies are generally more expensive than childminders.
• You can’t use your 15 or 30 free childcare hours with a nanny.
• Nannies don't follow a curriculum so aren't proactively getting children ready for primary school.

Nurseries: what you need to know

If you want your little one to have lots of other kids to play with, then why not think about using a nursery. Not only do they offer lots of different activities for the kids, they are often open for longer – great if you work full time and don’t have much holiday.

Some nurseries are attached to hospitals and big offices, so can be really convenient for your work.

PROS

• They are usually open all year round.
• Your child will have lots of friends to play with.
• Nurseries are often a cheaper option than nannies.
• All the nursery staff have childcare training and first aid training.
• You can use childcare vouchers and also your free 15 or 30 childcare hours.

CONS

• You can’t be as flexible with your hours.
• Some children might find the size of a nursery a bit overwhelming, especially after months of Covid-19 lockdowns.
• Your little one might not get as much one-on-one attention as they would from a nanny or childminder.
• You might not get daily feedback on how your child is getting on. This is something you definitely get if you hire your childminder through tiney. You'll be able to download their app and get daily updates on what your child is doing, along with how they are getting on with their early reading and writing skills.

Creches: what you need to know

Only after a couple of hours of childcare a day? Then a creche could be a good choice. They are often attached to gyms or shopping centres, so can mean a couple of hours of child-free time as and when you need it.

PROS

• They are very flexible, and you can book your kids in whenever you want.
• It’s a gentle introduction to childcare and helps your little one get used to being away from you.
• They’re much cheaper than other childcare options. 

CONS

• You can only book your child in for a couple of hours at a time, so it’s not an option if you need longer or wraparound childcare.
• There will be different children there each time meaning your little one might not form close friendships with the other kids.
• They’re not all Ofsted-registered: they don’t need to be if parents stay ‘on site’ (if it’s at a gym for example).