Types of childcare
Registration and inspection
Some childcare provisions are registered, others are not.
Registered childcare
Registered childcare settings are inspected by Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education), which makes sure standards are maintained. Ofsted inspection reports are public documents and your provider will be happy to show you a copy. They should be available on the provider’s website, or you can ask to look at the childminder’s copy of the report.
Registered providers have agreed to work to a common set of policies covering all the important aspects of their work with children. All children, including disabled children and those with special educational needs, will be offered the same opportunities and level of service.
| Type of childcare | Description |
|---|---|
| Childminders | Childminders are registered to look after children in their own homes. Childminders are flexible about the hours they work and provide children with a range of activities. Some offer a school pick up and collection service from schools, nurseries and pre-schools. |
| Crèches | Crèches provides childcare to enable parents to attend an activity taking place on the same premises. Crèches are required to register if they are open for more than 2 hours on any day and more than 6 days a year. |
| Day nurseries | Day nurseries provide full or part-time day care for children aged from birth to 5 years. Most are open from 8am to 6pm weekdays. All day nurseries are registered to the same standards. In Barking and Dagenham some nurseries are privately owned. There are also those that are run by the voluntary sector and those that are run by the local authority. |
| Pre-schools | Pre-schools offer day care for children aged 2 to 5 years during school terms. They offer a wide range of supervised play and learning opportunities. Pre-school fees vary, so check prices for individual settings. Pre-schools can offer free early education places for children aged 3 and 4 years old. |
| Out of School Clubs/ Wraparound Childcare |
Out of School Clubs / Wraparound childcare provides childcare before school and/or after school during term time. Wraparound childcare is breakfast club from 8am (or before) and after school club (usually till 6pm). Wraparound childcare meets the needs of children, aged from 4 to 11 years, whose parents/carers work, study or training for employment. Most Wraparound childcare are based on school site, but some individual clubs are linked to specific schools and the club's staff are responsible for escorting children to and from school (as appropriate). Other Wraparound childcare provisions can be in local settings such as a community centre, a nursery, or with a childminder. Out of School Clubs operates by the school and/or a provider on the school site. Each school/provider offers a different combination of clubs during term time as an extension of the school day. Out of School clubs do not operate as long as Wraparound childcare. (Sometimes 1hr longer after school day, or 1/2 hr before the start of school). This would be part of the school’s enrichment curriculum. |
| Holiday clubs | There are a number of childcare settings, such as out of school clubs and pre schools that open during school holidays. In addition specialist play schemes are also available. |
| Infants and primary nursery classes | These are nursery classes on school sites. They offer care in the morning or afternoon during term-time. |
Non-registered childcare
Childcare settings that meet for less than 2 hours a day or are not open to children aged less than 8 years don't need to register with Ofsted.
| Type of childcare | Description |
|---|---|
| Parent and toddler groups | These groups meet normally once or twice a week. They offer parents or carers of pre-school age children an opportunity of meeting socially while their children are able to take part in play activities. |
| Toy libraries | Toy libraries are where children can borrow a wide range of developmental toys. |