Choosing childcare

What are the options?
A good first port of call, for any parent looking for up-to-date information on childminders, nurseries, after school schemes and holiday play schemes in your locality, is the ChildCare Link on 08000 096 0296. They only have information on registered and approved schemes, which is this type of arrangement that enables you to apply for financial help from the government with childcare costs, if you are eligible.

The Childcare Tax Credit, which is part of the Working Families’ Tax Credit (WFTC), is worth up to 70% of your childcare costs – up to maximum of £100 a week for one child and £150 for two or more children. These amounts will be increased to £135 and £200 respectively from June 2001. To be eligible you have to work more than 16 hours a week, and your income and savings must be below a certain level. Families earning up to £22,000 can get a contribution towards childcare. For more details read this or call the Tax Credits Helpline on 0845 609 5000, Monday to Friday 7.30am - 6.30pm.

If you want to have your children cared for in their own home, nannies and au pairs can be a good alternative. However, there are no requirements for them to register with Social Services in the way childminders have to, so it's up to parents to check on the suitability of individuals they employ. If you use this type of childcare or make informal arrangements with family friends you can't claim WFTC.