Childcare Options for Parents

As you go back to work, it’s time to consider the different childcare options for you and your family. The type of childcare you might choose can be dependant on many factors, including your budget, child’s age, and the hours needed, including any specific requirements you might have, such as dietary, flexibility, etc.

A childminder is someone who looks after children within their own home. They should be registered with:

As childminders are self-employed, you don’t have to worry about National Insurance contributions or paying their tax. You could be entitled to help with your childcare costs using Tax-Free Childcare, or by claiming up to 85% of the monthly childcare costs if you’re eligible for Universal Credit. This will only work if the childminders are registered, as they should be. Childminders work flexible hours and may also offer to do school pick up/drop-offs. If your child is three or four, you can use your free weekly childcare allowance. It’s worth discussing your work hours with the childminder before you get your child settled in. This is so everyone is on the same page and you know the hours your childminder is willing to work from the morning, into the evening.

However, if they’re on holiday or ill, then you will have to make additional arrangements.

If you’re looking for a cost-effective way of your children being looked after, then childminders are great. They charge approximately £5 per child per hour, depending on the location. If your child is in part-time care (25 hours a week) with a childminder, you can expect to pay £115 per child per week.

Childminders are more likely to take your children to places such as the park, library, day trips, etc. There isn’t always a set routine, depending on the childminder you choose. However, there is a structure that is followed such a food times, playtimes, screen time (if allowed), and when they have to be back for children going home.

Childminders have to comply with food safety and hygiene regulations. You should ensure letting your childminder know of any food requirements your child may have. This can help them when they do their shopping (if they provide the food themselves). However, some childminders require parents to bring their child’s food from home.

Private nurseries are run by private individuals, commercial businesses, community groups, Montessori organisations, or employers. Private nurseries tend to care for children from 6 weeks to school age, and can offer care from around 8am to 6pm for most of the year. Most Private Nurseries offer a choice of morning, afternoon, or full-day sessions as well as out-of-school childcare facilities for school-age children.

Private nurseries give your child a wide variety of activities that are designed to encourage your child’s creativity, communication, social and listening skills, as well as their physical development. Your child will learn and play in a group which can help with confidence.

Private nurseries are registered with:

The average cost of a Private Nursery depends on the location. However, it averages around £138 part-time, per week and £263 per week for full-time, if your child is under two.

Nurseries also provide food and have set menus. The menu does usually change from season to season, but the typical day will start with fruit or cereal. Lunches can be sandwiches, soup, or a casserole. It is always best to discuss dietary requirements.

Bright Horizons is a popular childcare provider. There are over 300 nurseries within the UK and they have been trusted with many families over the years, providing naturally inspiring and excellent care and education. Bright Horizon teaches your children social skills, alongside communication and listening skills.

Bright Horizons concentrate on their HEART values:

They wish to make a difference to families, children, and their employers while providing high-quality early care and education for each child, every day.

However, Bright Horizons, as it’s a Nursery Network, can be a bit more expensive. Depending on where you live, you could pay anywhere from £49 per day to £65 per day per child. However, you could be entitled to some financial help from the Government.

A nanny is a person who looks after a child in your own home. The position, depending on what you’re looking for, can be live-in or a daily role. Part-time nannies are also available if that’s what you’re looking for. Nannies can voluntarily register with Ofsted, However, this isn’t a requirement.

Nannies will usually follow a routine that you set out for them. It depends on what your child might need during the time and what activities you’d like the nanny to do with your child.

Your child will be cared for in their own home, which can be a comfort for many children. If your nanny is registered, you could use childcare vouchers or claim the childcare element of Working Tax Credit. Nannies are typically flexible, however, it’s best to discuss this with them when interviewing.

However, you’ll be their employer and in turn, will be responsible for paying their Income Tax and NI contributions. As you’re their employer, you also automatically enroll into paying a pension for your nanny if they’re earning more than £192 per week (£833 per month) before tax. If your nanny is ill or on holiday, you will have to find additional arrangements.

For a nanny, you should expect to be paying between £8 and £12 per hour depending on the location and experience.

Au Pairs live with you and learn the local culture and language while providing approximately 30 hours of childcare and help around the home. An Au Pair is typically flexible with the hours they work. It’s worth discussing the hours they’re looking for when you interview them.

The costs are much lower than childminders or nannies are they’re paid ‘pocket money'. They are usually treated as a member of the family rather than employees, so you won’t have to worry about their tax or NI.

Unfortunately, you can’t use childcare vouchers or claim the childcare element of Working Tax Credit. You will also need to factor in the cost of their board and room on top of what you’re paying them.

An Au Pair will be expecting “pocket money” of typically between £70 and £90 per week, not including food and accommodation. If you use an agency to find an Au Pair, they will typically charge a finders fee.

A shared nanny is a nanny that is shared with another family. There are different types, such as a five-week share with children being looked after together, or a part-time share with children being looked after together two or three days a week. There is also a split week share where the main family employing a nanny full time and sharing them with another family for part of the week. You can negotiate more flexible hours with a shared nanny if you’re working varying hours, evenings, or weekends.

Nanny Shares can logistically be difficult to be managed. You need to consider finding a family that is compatible with you. Nanny shares can make it difficult to create structure that some families need, including planned meals.

After-school clubs build the bridge the gap between the end of school days until parents get home. Teachers at after-school clubs typically help with homework and offer structured play to keep everyone entertained.

They can take place at school for an additional charge or could be provided in a separate location such as a nursery which could run an after-school club for older children.

After-school clubs cost approximately £57. This is per child, so if you have multiple children, you should bare this in mind.

As the after-school club is typically located at your child’s school, this means they don’t have to be moved from one place to another. Costs can be subsidised by local councils to keep the costs down and after-school clubs are Ofsted registered so all staff will be DBS checked.

However, after-school clubs don’t help with the morning run, require an upfront commitment, cannot respond to short notice requests and they typically finish at 6pm so can’t provide later requirements.

A babysitter is someone who looks after your child in your own home. They can look after children up to the age of 13, which is the age your children can be left at home on their own.

Babysitters are commonly local young women or older women who are known through the family through mutual connections. They are usually used for ad-hoc childcare in the evenings. This means that parents can go out in the evening while the children are asleep.

The cost of a babysitter is unregulated. The level of service and pricing is highly variable. Pricing is often set by the babysitter depending on their age and can be a fixed fee. Typical prices for a babysitter with experience can be £10-£15 per hour.

Tax-Free Childcare

This entitlement is for working families who earn under £100K and at least £142 per week, including self-employed. You might be entitled to Tax-Free Childcare if you aren’t receiving Tax Credits, Universal Credit, or Childcare Vouchers with children that are ages 0-11, or 0-16 if your child is disabled.

15 Hours Free Childcare

This is for families with 2-year-old children. This is a total of 570 hours per hour and you can flexibly use one or more childcare providers.

You could also be eligible for 15 hours of free childcare if you have a child that is 3-4 years old.

30 Hours Free Childcare

You could be eligible for this if you have children aged 3-4 and you earn at least £142 per week. You might still be eligible if you will be starting paid work in the next 31 days.

Universal Credit

Universal Credit is available to help with up to 85% of childcare costs if you aren’t receiving Tax-Free Childcare and have children under the age of 17.

Support While you Study

Care to Learn offers weekly payments if you’re under 20 at the start of a publicly-funded course. This could be school or sixth form.

You could also consider applying for Discretionary Learner Support if you’re 19 or over and in further education. This is classed as an NVQ, BTEC, or PGCE.

You could also apply for a Childcare Grant if you pay for childcare costs for children under 15, or 17 if they have special needs and you’re in full-time higher education.