Help choosing childcare

When choosing childcare and an early education setting consider your family situation and main reason for needing childcare including:

  • Your child's age.
  • Sibling's schooling arrangements (location, finish times).
  • Your family's work/study (flexibility, location and travel times).
  • Any support you have from family and friends.
  • Your financial situation (remember you may be able to get help with childcare costs).

A combination of childcare may suit you best (using a childminder and a private day nursery or preschool playgroup).

The different types of childcare are shown below.

0-5 years

If you are looking for a childcare provision for a child aged 0 to 5 years please see the links below for a list of each type of childcare.

2-5 years

If you are looking for a childcare provision for a child aged between 3 to 5 years please see the links below for the different types of childcare. Free early education is available for eligible 2 year olds and all 3 and 4 year olds are entitled to 15 hours per week term-time. Eligible 3 and 4 year olds are entitled to 30 hours per week term-time.

5 years +

If you are looking for out of school care or holiday care please see the following types of childcare.

Local advice

  1. Childcare Support - Funded places and help paying for childcare

    From April 2024 the government have announced changes to the existing childcare support and they will be expanding the offer of child care in phases, this includes funded childcare for children aged 2 years followed by those aged 9 months for eligible families that are…
  2. Childcare contracts and complaints

    Before your child can attend a childcare setting, you will need to sign a contract. Signing a contract with a childcare provider is a legally binding document.

Page last reviewed: 13/03/2024