For details of pre-school childcare in the area, contact Ofsted. As well as inspecting and registering childcare, it also maintains and distributes lists of providers, including nursery schools, day nurseries, playgroups and childminders. Similar information is also available from the Children’s Information Service (CIS) or Family Information Service (FIS) operated by each of the 33 London Boroughs. When you have chosen where you would like to live, you can contact your local CIS or FIS by phone or on the web. Information on early years and pre-school education is also available at www.childcarelink.gov.uk, www.parentcentre.gov.uk and www.surestart.gov.uk
Full-day care options include childminders and nursery providers. These are listed by the CIS or FIS of each London Borough, and by the information providers listed above. Nursery providers include private day nurseries or nursery schools and nursery classes attached to Local Authority schools. Full-time provision is supplemented by providers who have facilities for 'sessions' of childcare, such as crèches, pre-school playgroups, toddler groups and out-of-school, or holiday, playschemes. All the available provision makes up a total picture from which to select the pre-school childcare which best suits your child's' needs.
Registered childminders
The National Childminding Association can be contacted for advice, and also publishes a range of useful leaflets.
Nannies
There are a huge number of agencies in the area that can supply permanent and temporary registered childminders, nannies and mothers' helps. Alternatively, you could advertise in the domestic vacancies section of the local papers for nannies, mothers' helps or child carers.
