Choosing quality childcare

As a parent you want to ensure that the childcare provider you choose to care for and educate your child is of the highest quality. There are several ways you can do this.

Visit

Arrange a visit to the provider - this will tell you a lot about the standard of care and education they provide. Trust your instincts about how you feel about your child attending the setting you visit.

Ofsted

All childcare providers registered with Ofsted are inspected within seven months of opening, and then again every three to four years at regular intervals. The inspection report will tell parents and carers all about the quality of the provision, and help them decide if they want the provider to look after their child. All reports are published in full on the Ofsted website.

Recommendations

You may have a friend or family member who is currently using childcare. It's always worthwhile asking them for feedback on their experience, and whether they'd recommend the provider they use.