Childcare

If you are thinking about training or going to college or university, you will find that some colleges and universities provide nursery or creche facilities for students. The services are never enough for the demand, so it is important to discuss with college staff, as early as possible, any needs you and your children may have, and to consider a wide range of qualified, supervised or family support as well.

There may be some funds available to support child care costs in colleges and universities, but these will depend on the area you live in, your own financial situation, the course or learning programme you are on or other criteria. Check with the student services staff in your college or university or welfare advisers from your community as they will know about any schemes which may be available.

If you are a young parent in education or training (under 16, 16 - 19) or a single (lone) parent, there is child care support available from the government for employment and training. For more information, contact your local Job Centre, Connexions service or college.

Choosing and finding childcare

The childcare that you choose should be registered with Ofsted, the government inspection agency which monitors and inspects childminders and day care, and provides inspection reports on its website.

• ChildcareLink - for national and local childcare information, including advice and guidance on childcare including childminders, nurseries, playgroups and playschemes, with local links and contacts and immediate vacancies, UK government site.
  
  
• Choosing childcare - database of member nurseries with Quality Counts Accreditation and top tips when choosing a nursery, from the National Day Nurseries Association.
  
  
• Choosing and understanding childcare - from Opportunity Links, Cambridgeshire, useful advice from the Daycare Trust booklet, information on local and national childcare and parenting organisations and help for parents in the Cambridgeshire area.
  
  
• The Daycare Trust - news, information, advice for parents, publications and events.
  
  
• Information for parents - from the Daycare Trust, provides useful advice for parents on childcare options, paying for childcare for student and other parents, quality issues in childcare, becoming a working parent and newsletter for parents.
  
  
• Learner Support Funds - may be able to provide financial help for childcare for students of all ages, in school sixth forms, sixth form colleges and Further Education colleges.
  
  
• National Childminding Association - promoting quality registered childminding in England and Wales, site includes information on registered childminding, quality standards, OFSTED's Early Years Directorate (inspections), training and information on the Working Families Tax Credit + articles and publications.
  
  
• Parent Centre - very useful guidance for parents from the DfES, includes sections on finding and choosing a nanny and other childcare, useful advice, information and resources for each age group and online play and learning resources and contacts.
  
  
• Playgroup Network - organisation for local associations, with publications and events.
  
  
• SureStart - UK government programme supporting children, families and communities, with information about the wide range of government and other services for children, quality and standards information and development, information on jobs and careers in the sector and recruitment grants, publications, events and consultations.
  
  
• Top Notch Nannies - a commercial site, which also has information on nannies, mother's helps, maternity nurses and au pairs including their responsibilities and conditions of service, average wages, empoyers' tax and national insurance obligations, online advice about childcare by email, nannies club (based in London).

• 4Children - formerly known as Kids’ Clubs Network, re-launched as the national charity dedicated to creating opportunities and building futures for children, includes campaigns, activities for children.
  
  
• Children's Services, Department of Health - policies and site also includes publications and strategies related to children in need.
  
  
• Families and children - resources from the Department of Work and Pensions, including benefit information.
  
  
• Free Play Network - network of individuals and organisations promoting free play opportunities and good practice in play provision, with news, policy issues, managing risk, design, online resources and ideas.
  
  
• National Childminding Association - promoting quality registered childminding in England and Wales, site includes information on registered childminding, quality standards, OFSTED's Early Years Directorate (inspections), training and information on the Working Families Tax Credit and articles and publications.
  
  
• National Day Nurseries Association - national membership association for day nurseries, with news, FAQs, online database of nurseries, top tips on choosing a nursery, sections on training, quality and working in childcare, also promoting Socially Responsible Childcare, with policy paper and conference.
  
  
• Pre-school Learning Alliance - supporting community pre-schools, including factsheets and online information on expanding a pre-school, getting trained and qualified and Frequently Asked Questions.
  
  
• SPRITO-ELS - National Training Organisation (NTO) for playwork, sports and recreation, health and fitness, the outdoors, leisure attractions, caravan industry.
  
  
• Tax Credits Online - information from the Inland Revenue, with interactive online service.
  
  
• UK Government legislation, information and press releases - organised into topic areas, directories and reference, online services, parents, motorists, disabled people and carers and other groups of people, news and links.