The following types of provision are available:

• Find out what's happening at Bessborough
• What is Registered Childcare?
• Registered Childminders
• Day Nurseries
• Crèches
• Nannies
• Out of School Childcare
• Parent and Toddler Groups
• Pre-Schools
• List of Childcare Providers

What is Registered Childcare?

Any setting that cares for children aged under 8 years for a period of 2 hours or more must be registered with Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education). Parent and toddler groups are unregistered because the parent stays with the child. Some playgroups and out of school facilities are exempt from registration because they operate for less than 2 hours or care for children over 8 years old.

All registered childcare providers are inspected periodically by Ofsted to ensure that they meet the National Standards for childcare.

You may wish to combine different types of childcare in order to help you to work or train. This is known as wraparound or extended childcare. For example, a child could attend a pre-school in the morning, then be collected from the pre-school by a childminder who would care for the child for the rest of the day. Or a child could be taken to and collected from school by a childminder during term time and attend a holiday playscheme during the holidays.

For more information please download the Choosing childcare leaflet below.

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Childminders

A childminder must be registered with Ofsted in order to care for children under the age of 8 in their home for payment.

Childminders provide a flexible form of childcare that fits the needs of working parents. They can take children to and from schools and nurseries, and often take children to group settings such as drop-ins where they can socialise with other children.

To become a childminder no formal qualifications are necessary although it is expected that applicants have experience of caring for young children. Potential childminders must attend a pre-registration course and have completed a First Aid course within the first 6 months of childminding. Childminders can register for up to 6 children under 8 years old including no more than one under 12 months. This differs between childminders because a childminder's own children have to be taken into account. Childminders are self-employed therefore there is no national rate that they have to charge, although most charge around £120 per child for full-time care per week or on average around £6 - £8 per hour. Most childminders will provide childcare between the hours of 8am and 6pm. Some childminders will work early mornings, evenings and weekends as well.

The Family Information Service can give details about childminders, including the hours that they work, their cost, whether they collect from schools etc. Please contact the FIS for a complete list of registered childminders in your area. Many childminders can also be found on the DirectGov website.

Advantages of Childminders:

• Children are cared for in a home environment
• Children can mix with children of different ages and backgrounds
• Childminders can take your child to and from schools or other groups settings
• Childminders can provide part-time care
• Childminders can be very flexible
• Childminders can provide consistent care by looking after a child for a long time
• Childminders can provide opportunities for children to be included in domestic activities and in getting to know their locality, shops, parks, toddler groups and schools

For more information please download the Childminder leaflet below.

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Crèches

Crèches need to be registered with Ofsted if they provide occasional care for children aged under 8 years on particular premises for more than 5 days a year. They need to be registered if they are open for more than 2 hours a day; even when individual children attend for shorter periods. Most crèches are in permanent premises, such as supermarkets and leisure centres, and parents stay on the premises while the child is cared for in the crèche. Other crèches provide childcare at one-off events such as training courses.

The FIS can give details about crèches, such as opening times and costs. Please contact the FIS for a complete list of crèches in your area. Crèches can also be found on the DirectGov website

If you need the services of a mobile crèche at events such as weddings and training courses please contact the FIS for further details.

Advantages of using a Crèche:

• Flexible care
• Support for parents who are studying or shopping or pursuing a leisure activity
• In-house childcare

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Nannies

A nanny provides childcare in the child's own home and is employed by the child's family. Nannies look after children of all ages and can work flexible hours. Nannies do not have to meet any legal requirements to work with children so it is the responsibility of the employer to ensure that they are satisfied with the person they employ. Parents may wish to contact the Criminals Records Bureau to carry out their own police check on the prospective nanny. Au pairs and babysitters fall into a similar category as nannies. Employing a nanny means that you are responsible for paying the nanny's salary and deducting Tax and National Insurance contributions. HMRC operates an Employers Helpline for these sorts of issues (Telephone 08457 143 143).

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Out of School Hours Childcare and Play

Children aged 5-12 yrs can access a range of play and leisure activities after school and during the holidays. There are many play centres (sometimes called play projects or kid's clubs) in Westminster where qualified playworkers provide children with sports, arts, music and other activities. A play centre must register with Ofsted as an out of school childcare provider if it provides activities for children under 8 years for more than 2 hours a day for more than 5 days a year. To view the National Standards for out of school childcare please visit the Ofsted website

Opening times for play centres vary. They are usually open between 3.00pm and 6.00pm during term time, and 8.00am - 6.00pm during the school holidays.

The staff that work in play centres are usually called playworkers. Normally there is a Co-ordinator and a Deputy Co-ordinator who are qualified in playwork and aged 21 or over. There must be a staffing ratio of 1 playworker to every 8 children, and at least 2 workers on the premises at all times.

Advantages of using an out of school club: 

• Often provided on, or close to, school premises
• Children can play with their friends from school
• Children can attend the same childcare provision the whole year round
• Provides outdoor play and exercise
• Many will offer outings and trips

For more information please download the Out of School Hours Care leaflet below.

The Westminster Play Service is changing

As part of the council’s need to provide more efficient, cost-effective services and in light of the financial constraints being faced by all public services in the current climate, the Westminster Play Service is being reviewed, and a number of key changes will take place over the next few months.

These changes include:

• a reduced Saturday play service
• reduction of play provision during the Christmas and half-term holidays
• an increase in the costs to parents for using the play service
• more support for parents applying to claim the childcare element of Working Tax Credit, to help reduce costs.

Please rest assured that:

• we recognise the importance of play to families
• whilst we cannot continue to subsidise the whole service, wherever possible, we will prioritise some subsidised low cost places for our most vulnerable children
• we know that after school and holiday childcare is popular and we want it to continue where there is demand from parents
• any new charges we introduce will be comparable to neighbouring boroughs.

Changes happening in September and October 2010

Some changes to the service will be happening in the next few months, including: 

• ceasing of Saturday provision at Micky Star and St. Stephen’s Play Projects from the beginning of the new term in September
• ceasing of Saturday sessions at Sussex Street, Maida Vale and Queen’s Park from Saturday 23rd October.

If you have questions about any of the changes, how they might affect you and alternatives to play services, please call the Family Information Service on 020 7641 7929, click here (www.westminster.gov.uk/familyinformationservice) or email fis@westminster.gov.uk

You may also contact the Family Information Service for a complete list of play centres in your area, or visit the DirectGov website.

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Parent and Toddler Groups

Parent and toddler groups do not need to register with Ofsted because parents attend with their children. Parent and toddler groups usually operate in church halls, schools and community centres. They run for a couple of hours on one or two days per week. Parent and toddler groups offer a great opportunity for parents and children to socialise. The cost of attending a session is minimal, usually just covering the cost of refreshments.

Please contact the Family Information Service for a complete list of groups in your area and download the Parent & Toddler leaflet below.

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Pre-Schools

Pre-schools that are open for more than 2 hours a day have to be registered with Ofsted and inspected annually. Most pre-schools operate for 2.5 hours per session with a session in the morning and one in the afternoon, Monday to Friday during term time. Children can attend pre-schools from the age of 2.5 to school age. Pre-schools are based in places such as primary schools, community centres and church halls. The staffing ratios for pre-schools are 1:4 for children aged 2 years and 1:8 for children aged 3-5 years.

Some pre-schools in Westminster can offer a funded early education place for 3 and 4 year olds if available. A place is 5 sessions of 2.5 hours per week during term time.

Contact the Family Information Service for more details of pre-schools in your area. Or search for pre-schools by visiting the DirectGov website.

Advantages of using pre-schools:

• Children can learn through play in a stimulating setting under the supervision of qualified staff
• Children can play and socialise with other children
• Pre-schools deliver the foundation stage curriculum
• Prepares children for school
• Opportunities for outdoor play

For more information please download the Pre-schools & Playgroups leaflet below.

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Day Nurseries

A day nursery provides daycare and early years education for children under 5 years old. Day nurseries are registered with Ofsted and are inspected annually. Most day nurseries open between 7.30am and 6.00pm Monday to Friday all year with the exception of public holidays. The cost of a day nursery in Westminster is usually between £120 and £200 per child per week, depending on the individual provider and age of the child. Part-time places are also available and cost usually around £14 a session. These are usually open twice a day with one session in the morning and another in the afternoon. Sessions vary but usually run from 8.00am - 1.00pm and 1.00pm - 5.00pm. Some day nurseries also offer early education places for 3 and 4 year olds if a place is available. An early education place is 5 sessions of 2.5 hours per week during term time. To find out more about early education places use the early education link at the top of the page.

The number of places that a private day nursery can provide depends on the premises. The staff to child ratio is 1:8 for children aged 3-5; 1:4 for children aged 2 years and 1:3 for children aged under 2 years.

Contact the Family Information Service for details of day nurseries in your area including opening times, costs and the ages of children they are registered for. Many day nurseries in Westminster can also be found on the DirectGov website

Advantages of using a Day Nursery:

• Children can mix with other children
• Geared towards the needs of children with working parents
• Qualified staff
• Delivery of the foundation stage curriculum
• Open all year
• Provides outdoor play
• May participate in outings

For more information please download the Nurseries leaflet below.

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Lists of Childcare Providers

The Family Information Service (FIS) holds a database of all registered childcare in Westminster, and also has details of most providers of services that do not need to be registered. The FIS can provide you with lists of all your nearest childcare with details of their location, costs, opening times, and school collection arrangements. Contact us online. Alternatively you can search for childcare providers in your area by using the following links:

• Directgov
• Parentscentre

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