Childcare Support for Student Parents
General information
You know your child best and need to choose childcare provision that will suit the needs of both you and your child.
The Government have created a framework of regulations and a set of National Standards that all childcare providers must meet to ensure that the childcare they offer is good quality. The National Standards ensure that childcare providers are meeting minimum standards in their quality of service. This guarantees that the service you receive in childcare is the same across the country. To ensure that minimum quality standards are achieved an independent regulator, Ofsted Early Years, was created to check, register, inspect and regulate local childcare facilities.
Types of childcare
Playgroups or playschools, offer childcare and education in sessions of around two and a half hours for children aged between two and five to learn and play in small groups. Most playschools will provide places for between 10 to 20 children, but the group should not exceed 26 children. Playgroups are usually available in most local communities because parents want their children to play and be with new children and adults before they start school.
Out of School Clubs - Out of School care is often found on school premises and where it is not, playworkers will usually escort children safely to and from school. There are three different types of Out of School care or kids’ clubs for children aged between four and eleven. Some clubs will be run for older children up to the age of 14 or 16 if a child has some additional needs. Out of School care is run by play workers who are specifically trained to work with school-aged children. Out of School providers may offer a combination of care:
Breakfast Clubs open in the mornings before school and often offer a breakfast meal of cereal, fruit and a drink. They offer care from as early as 7.30 am - 8.00 am and will supervise the children arriving at school.
After School Clubs open for sessions outside school hours to meet the needs of parents who are unable to collect children from the school gate. Clubs normally run during term time.
Holiday Clubs open during the day in school holidays and sometimes on teacher training days, etc.
Live-in-Nannies/Au pairs live with the family they are working for. You will need to provide them with free accommodation and meals. Your home will also be the nanny’s home. Fixed hours and duties need to be set. Your nanny may do some babysitting by arrangement.
Daily Nannies come to your home every day to look after your child. Babysitting may be arranged for evenings, in exchange for extra pay.
Mother’s Helps are employed by parents to help with housework and look after the children. They usually live near the family and come in for a set number of hours per week. They are not usually trained but may be experienced.
Day Nurseries are for children aged from six weeks to five years old. Different nurseries will cater for different age ranges, so you should always check with the provider. At day nurseries children can receive care, play and learning opportunities if parents work, study or would like their children to socialise with other children and adults.
Childminders look after children in their own home and like all other types of Childcare, they are inspected by Ofsted every two years. Childminders are flexible about the hours they work and will often take and collect children from school or pre-school. Childminders offer care, fun and learning in an environment similar to your own home. Childminders often make trips to parks and playgrounds, toy libraries, libraries and community groups such as Parent and Toddlers. Childminders usually care for more one than one child, offering opportunities for your child to socialise.
Nursery Schools are schools maintained by the County Council, attached to either primary or infant schools and offer early education or childcare for children aged three to four. Where a nursery class is attached to a primary school, it will normally offer half-day sessions for either five mornings or afternoons per week. A few independent schools operate nursery classes where it is sometimes possible to choose more flexible care, including care before 9.00am and after 3.30pm.
Childcare at Northumbria
The University does have a nursery, though there are no subsidised nursery places available. Instead, undergraduate, PGCE and Nursing students should choose their own childcare provider and then apply for financial support for the costs. For more information on how to do this, see below.
Where to find registered childcare
Details of your local information service and fact sheets on your childcare options follow link: Directgov
Paying for childcare costs
Childcare costs usually account for a high proportion of a student's income. However, there is some help for student parents. When you are planning childcare, you will need to work out how much per week you can afford, taking into account any help you may be entitled to. The various sources of help are listed below:
Related Links
National Day Nurseries Association
