Types of childcare
Childminders
Childminders work in their own home providing quality childcare to local families.
They must be registered. The registration process involves:
- verification of references
- a health and police check for childminders and every adult in their household.
The childminder's home is inspected by Ofsted to ensure it is safe and suitable.
Some childminders will take children to and from school (usually 3 and 4 year olds). This is known as wraparound care.
Childminder networks
A Children Come First childminder network is a formal group of childminders. It is co-ordinated by a childminder network co-ordinator, employed by Liverpool City Council (LCC).
Children Come First is a nationally recognized quality assurance scheme developed by the National Childminding Association (NCMA) in partnership with the National Sure Start unit and Ofsted.
The Children Come First scheme has been endorsed by the Government's Investors in Children scheme. This means that it has been assessed by a panel of experts from the National Sure Start unit to ensure that it promotes quality childcare.
Liverpool City Council has been committed to developing childminder networks since 2000. To assist with the development of the Children Come First networks, several childminder co-ordinators were recruited, whose main responsibility was to establish childminder networks across the city.
Currently there are a number of childminder networks operating in the north, central and south areas of the city. As children's centres develop across Liverpool, the number of networks will increase with the strategic plan being 22 part-time networks based in children's centres. Childminder networks form part of the core services to be delivered via the children's centres.
These are exciting times for the childminder networks in Liverpool. They continue to grow and develop into the Liverpool Childminder Cluster Network Model.
Support available for childminders
- start-up funding available for new childminders
- ability to undertake a nationally recognised quality assurance award
- support of a network co-ordinator
- support of a network buddy
- peer support via weekly childminder drop-ins held at the children's centres
- business and marketing support
- training opportunities
- toy library membership
- help with filling vacancies via the Children's Information Service
Children's Centres
Children's centres are based in disadvantaged communities. They provide:
- integrated care and education for young children
- health services
- family support
- a base for childminder networks.
The Local Authority is responsible for the development of children's centres. The National Sure Start Unit approves designation of individual centres.
Crèches
This is a childcare setting which supports short or occasional childcare. This enables parents/carers to take part in activities eg leisure, training, a break or one-off event. Crèches that operate for more than two hours more than five times per year must be registered.
Day nurseries
These provide full and part time childcare for children aged 0-5. Some nurseries will take children to and from a local school (usually 3 and 4 year olds). This is known as providing wraparound care.
Day nurseries are registered by Ofsted.
Extended Schools
An extended school provides a range of services and activities, often beyond the school day. This helps to meet the needs of its pupils, their families and the wider community. These services may include:
- childcare
- adult education
- study support
- ICT facilities
- community sports programmes.
All schools providing a total of two hours or more childcare in any one day must register with Ofsted. This may include breakfast and after school provision or holiday playschemes.
Schools that wish to provide childcare on their site should contact the Liverpool Early Years Team on 0151 225 6279 or earlyyears@liverpool.gov.uk.
Nursery school or class
Nursery schools or classes provide early education and childcare for groups of children usually over three years of age.
They provide half day sessions and are staffed by teachers and assistants. Nursery classes are usually attached to schools (either Local Authority or private schools).
If you want your child to attend a nursery school or class attached to a local authority primary school, you will be offered a part time place of up to five sessions a week.
This will not guarantee you a place in the infant school when your child is older. Please visit our Admissions pages for more information.
Private nursery schools will charge a fee. However, the cost to you may be reduced if the nursery school is:
- registered to receive the Early Education Grant
- and if your child is three or four years of age.
Nursery (Local Authority)
These provide full or part time day care for children aged six weeks to five years old. Places are available for working parents. The service also works with agencies to support children and families with particular needs.
Nannies/au pairs/baby-sitters
Nannies are employed by parents/carers to look after children in their own home. They offer a personal form of childcare tailored to the needs of the family, however from April 2007 Nannies are eligible to join the Voluntary Childcare Register.
There are no legal requirements for a person applying for a job as a nanny. They are not checked by anybody except you as an employer.
Out of school clubs
These are for school age children to play, learn and have fun in groups. They are usually set up in or near to schools.
Out of school clubs that care for children under eight for more than two hours for more than five days per year are registered and inspected by OFSTED.
Playgroups (pre-school)
These are for young children to learn and play in small groups. They offer part time sessions for children aged between two and five.
They can be registered by OFSTED where they meet the requirements for registration. Some are registered with the Local Authority and OFSTED to receive grants for early education.
Parent and toddler groups
These groups provide:
- stimulating play environments for young children
- an opportunity for parents/carers to socialise with others.
Each session usually lasts less than two hours and children are accompanied by parents/carers. So there is no requirement to register this type of care.
Playschemes
The term playscheme is used widely for many types of varied provision for children between the ages of three and 16. However, there are two different types of playschemes:
Childcare playschemes
They operate a closed door policy to ensure that children do not leave without a named adult.
Open access playschemes
They operate an open door policy. This means that children and young people can enter and leave the scheme when they wish to without the involvement or permission of an adult.
Scheme organisers have the responsibility to inform the parents/carers of the children who wish to attend the projects open door policy.
All playschemes operating for more than two hours for more than five days per year must be registered by Ofsted.
Existing childcare providers
Existing childcare providers across the City can have support from an:
- area development worker
- citywide childminder network co-ordinator
Funding is also available for providers who sign up to and work towards an accredited quality assurance scheme. An analysis of training needs across the city's childcare providers enables funding to be allocated where necessary.
For more information contact us on 0151 225 6279.