Day nurseries deliver home comforts
You’re pregnant – and getting bigger all the time – and, as well as still working and coping with commuting, you are also planning for the birth: buying equipment and keeping up with antenatal appointments and classes.
But, if you’re aiming to go back to work after the birth, it’s important not to stop your planning at the birth stage: you must also plan your childcare. Day nurseries have long waiting lists and you’ll need to act well in advance if you are going to find one that you like that also meets your practical needs.
Some day nurseries will take babies from six weeks but many are for children aged two to five. They all have to be registered by the local authority and inspected annually. Costs can range from nothing (places for children ‘in need’) to about £180 per week. There are several different kinds of day nursery with different entry criteria:
Workplace nurseries. To get a place for your child, you need a job with an employer who has set up a nursery or bought places at another nursery for its employees.
Community nurseries. You need to live in the catchment area to qualify for a place, and many also have ‘social need’ criteria (You must have some recognised disadvantage, such as lone parenthood or low income). Community nurseries are subsidised, so the fees are generally much lower than private nurseries. Some local authorities buy or subsidise places at community nurseries and these places are often reserved for families in particular need. On the other hand, community nurseries also sell a proportion of places to working parents who can afford the full fees. Check the situation in your area through your local Children's Information Service or call Childcare Link on 0800 0960296 or visit their website.
Council nurseries. These nurseries are usually for the children of families in crisis. Social workers and health visitors refer children to fill these places. Many of these nurseries also sell places to working parents who can afford full fees.
Private nurseries. These are small businesses. Sometimes they are part of a chain of nurseries.
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