Childcare
In this section:
Depending on the age of your child and your
childcare requirements there are a variety of childcare options
available to you.
Please download any of the following
information sheets to find out more about the types of provision
available:
More information about different types of
childcare is available in the Choosing Childcare
Factsheet (PDF 389 KB) as well as a list of things to look for
and questions to ask when looking for childcare.
If you are looking for childcare you can use
our online childcare search, ring
the Early Help Hub on 01905 822 666 to speak to one of
our team who can send you information specific to your requirements
or email us at earlyhelphub@worcestershire.gov.uk.
Childcare
between the ages of 0 and 5 years old
If you are returning to work following
maternity leave your childcare options include Day Nurseries,
Registered Childminders or Home Childcarers as they are able to
care for babies from three months old. From the age of two years
old your child will be able to attend a Pre-school/Playgroup and
from three years of age you would be able to consider sending your
child to a Local Authority Nursery.
Try and visit as many childcare providers as you can as they can
vary from one another, however the most important thing is that you
chose one that is best suited to you and your child's needs.
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Before and
After School Childcare
Once your child has started school, you may still need to find
before and after school childcare so that you are able to go to
work. The Early Help Hub can provide you with information
on before and after school clubs in your area, as well as details
of childminders that may be able to take your child to school in
the morning and collect them in the afternoon.
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Holiday
Schemes
If you need childcare during the school holidays, you may want
to consider a holiday scheme. Holiday schemes may run for all or
part of the school holidays and are provided by a childcare
provider or school. Other types of schemes could be activity based,
offering activities such as sports or crafts.
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Babysitters
If you need a babysitter to look after your child for a short
period of time to enable you to attend appointments or to go out
for the evening, the Early Help Hub can provide you with
details of agencies that can provide a babysitting service. For
more information on babysitters please see the Home Based Child Care
Factsheet (PDF 217 KB) or contact us on 01905 822666.
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Childcare
Brokerage
If you are struggling to find appropriate childcare and need
some extra help our trained advisers can contact childcare
providers on your behalf and then give you all the possible
available alternatives. This brokerage service is completely
free and impartial and the final decision about which provider you
use will be yours. If you would like to use this brokerage service,
please call us on 01905 822 666.
Childcare
Disclaimer
The range of services offered varies and it is
therefore strongly recommended that you visit personally to discuss
and assess the quality of service offered for your child. Any
child carer, support service or activity should welcome you to
visit with your child before registering.
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure
the accuracy of the information provided, the Early Help
Hub cannot accept responsibility or liability for any errors
which have occurred. It is recommended that you always check
details with providers to ensure their service meets your
requirements. Furthermore, the Early Help Hub cannot
recommend or endorse any of the providers listed.
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Paying for
Childcare
Paying for childcare to enable you to work can be costly;
however there is Financial Assistance available to help with the
cost of Ofsted registered childcare.
Depending on your circumstances you may be
eligible to receive the childcare element of the
Working Tax Credits (External Website), which could pay up to
70% of your childcare costs up to a maximum amount of £175 a week
for one child and £300 a week for two of more children.
Alternatively your employer may offer
childcare vouchers to help with the cost of childcare. Usually
childcare vouchers run on a salary sacrifice system whereby you
have an amount deducted from your pay, this amount is free from
Income Tax and National Insurance contributions and can be paid
towards childcare costs.
If you are entitled to receive both Childcare
Vouchers and Tax Credits, you may wish to use the childcare vouchers and tax
credits better off calculator (External Website) to see which
would be the best option for you.
Other financial assistance may be available,
more details are included in the Financial Assistance
Fact Sheet (PDF 313 KB), or if you would like to speak to
someone please contact the Early Help Hub on 01905 822
666.
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Free Early
Education for Two Year Olds
Worcestershire County Council provides free early education
places to some two year olds. The funding is very limited and
therefore has very strict criteria, currently you need to have
registered your child with a Children's Centre, live in an area
selected as eligible for the scheme and be in receipt of certain
financial assistance in order to be offered the funding.
Eligible children are entitled to receive 10
hours of free early education per week starting two school terms
after their second birthday, the funding will continue until the
child is old enough to claim the three year old funding which is
the school term following their third birthday.
From September 2012 changes will be made to
the two year old funding so that Worcestershire County Council can
offer it to more children, for details about the changes to the
funding please contact the Early Help Hub on 01905 822
666.
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Free Early
Education for Three and Four Year Olds
Worcestershire County Council provides free
early education places for all three and four year olds. Children
are entitled to receive 15 hours of free early education a week for
38 weeks of the year, from the term following your child's third
birthday.
You can find out more by reading the free early education places
Frequently
Asked Questions (PDF 121 KB) or by contacting
the Early Help Hub on 01905 822 666.
If you are looking for somewhere to take up
your free place, settings such as day nurseries, pre-schools and
childminders offering free early education places can be found
through our online childcare
search. If you would like the Early Help Hub to
search for childcare for you, please fill in the enquiry form or contact us on 01905 822
666.
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This page was last reviewed 17 May 2013 at 17:18.
The page is next due for review 13 November 2014.