This is the most common form of childcare, with children being cared for by familiar people in familiar surroundings. Using friends and relatives can be flexible with the carer often having children of their own. Any payment for this form of childcare cannot be taken into consideration when making a claim for Tax Credits. Friends caring for children under the age of eight for more than two hours per day should be registered. Anyone, apart from close relatives, receiving a fee is breaking the law. (It is a legal requirement to register any childcare which provides more than two hours care per day for under-eights in return for any payment).
Childminders are childcare professionals who can offer school drop-off and/or pick-up as well as part and full-time places, and school holiday care. Children are cared for in the childminder’s home often with a range of children of different ages, sometimes including their own. This form of childcare is registered and must comply with certain standards enforced by Ofsted. For further assistance in this area, as well as a list of childminders in your area, call Oldham Family Information Service free on 0800 731 1518. We will search our database to find you a childminder who can take care of your individual needs and send you a list as well as offer assistance on how to make the right decision.
Information on childminding services in your area is available online at www.ouroldham.info or through the childcare link website - www.childcarelink.gov.uk/oldham Please note not all providers have given permission to publish their details on these websites. For a complete list of childcare providers, please contact the Family Information Service on 0800 731 1518, or e-mail: familyinfo@oldham.gov.uk
The Childcare Approval Scheme came into existance in April 2005. It is a voluntary scheme which enables parents to check if their nanny or carer is approved. The scheme approves people who wish to care for children over eight only in the childcarer's home or on other premises e.g. sports centre/school or for children under eight in the child's home.
The scheme verifies that a potential childcarer has a suitable qualification and a recent First Aid certificate. An enhanced Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check is also carried out. Parents who use an approved childcarer may be able to claim help for their childcare costs through the childcare element of the Working Tax Credit. More information about the scheme can be found on the government website www.childcareapprovalscheme.co.uk or by calling their helpline on 0845 7678 111.
Please see Ofsted's New Registration Arrangements page with regards to the chilcare register, or contact the Early Years Team on 0161 770 3686.
Out of school clubs offer care for children outside the school day. This can be before school starts and/or after school. Parents can drop the child off at the club in the morning and be assured that the child will be cared for and safely taken to school. At the end of the school day, the child will be picked up from the school and escorted back to the club venue until parents pick them up. Many out of school clubs are run by voluntary management committees on school premises.
Click here for details of out of school clubs in Oldham
Information on out of school clubs in your area is available online at www.ouroldham.info or through the childcare link website – www.childcarelink.gov.uk/oldham Please note not all providers have given permission to publish their details on these websites.For a complete list of childcare providers, please contact the Family Information Service on 0800 731 1518, or e-mail: familyinfo@oldham.gov.uk
Holiday care clubs offer both full and part-time places in the school holidays. These clubs are offered by a variety of organisations. Some large companies organise holiday care centres for their employees to alleviate the problem of parents/carers balancing work and family responsibilities during the long summer holiday.
Click here for Holiday care clubs in Oldham
Information on holiday care clubs in your area is available online at www.ouroldham.info or through the childcare link website – www.childcarelink.gov.uk/oldham Please note not all providers have given permission to publish their details on these websites. For a complete list of childcare providers, please contact the Family Information Service on 0800 731 1518, or e-mail: familyinfo@oldham.gov.uk
Pre-schools and playgroups offer a similar kind of childcare. They mainly provide sessional care, usually from 2½ hours to six hours, for children from the age of 2 to 5 years during the school term time. However, some pre-school/playgroups continue to operate during the school holidays. All pre-schools and playgroups that are registered to receive the Nursery Education Grant are regularly inspected by Ofsted, the DCFS quality watchdog.
Wrap-around playgroups enable children who attend school on a part-time basis, to take part in a full day of education and activities. These playgroups will either care for the child in the morning, escorting the child to school for his/her afternoon educational placement or in the afternoon, picking the child up from school and caring for the child until the parent/carer picks them up. This kind of care is very similar to out of school clubs, but caters for children aged three and four who are attending school for half a day. The rules and regulations applicable to out of school groups apply to extended playgroups that offer care for around 4 hours in a day.
Oldham Family Information Service can send out a list of all pre-schools, playgroups and wrap-around playgroups in your area within Oldham. Details on these lists include address and phone number of the childcare provider, opening hours, costs and facilities. These lists are free of charge. To request a printed list, please call the Family Information Service on 0800 731 1518, or e-mail: familyinfo@oldham.gov.uk
Information on pre-schools in your area is available online at www.ouroldham.info or through the childcare link website – www.childcarelink.gov.uk/oldham Please note not all providers have given permission to publish their details on these websites. For a complete list of childcare providers, please contact the Family Information Service on 0800 731 1518, or e-mail: familyinfo@oldham.gov.uk
Parent and toddler groups are usually meetings of mums, dads or carers and children under the age of four. The session gives the parent/carer a chance to socialise with each other and children the chance to learn to play in a group environment, sharing a variety of toys. Parents and children can also benefit from the opportunity to spend time together without the distraction of household chores. They are normally open for an hour or two, one day a week, and close during the school holidays. They usually only charge a nominal fee to cover costs of refreshments.
Remember – parents/carers must stay with their children at all times.
Information on parent and toddler groups in your area is available online at www.ouroldham.info or through the childcare link website – www.childcarelink.gov.uk/oldham Please note not all providers have given permission to publish their details on these websites. For a complete list of childcare providers, please contact the Family Information Service on 0800 731 1518, or e-mail: familyinfo@oldham.gov.uk
Private day nurseries can offer full day care provision and nursery education for children aged from birth to 5 years old. They are usually open from 8 am to 6pm, hours and costs vary. They offer part time and full time places all year round. All private day nurseries registered to receive the Nursery Education Grant are regularly inspected by Ofsted, the DCSF quality watchdog. Some private day nurseries are registered to look after children over the age of five and can collect and drop children off at local schools.
Information on private day nurseries in your area is available online at www.ouroldham.info or through the childcare link website – www.childcarelink.gov.uk/oldham Please note not all providers have given permission to publish their details on these websites. For a complete list of childcare providers, please contact the Family Information Service on 0800 731 1518, or e-mail: familyinfo@oldham.gov.uk