Types of Care
What is Full Day Care?
Full day care provides day care for children under the age of eight for a continuous period of four hours or more in any day. The care is provided on premises which are not domestic premises, e.g. Day nurseries and children's centres, and some family centres.
Find out more: http://www.ofsted.gov.uk
What is Sessional Childcare?
Sessional care provides day care for children under the age of eight years. The care provided is for a continuous period of time that is either less than or up to 4 hours in any day, and it is in premises which are not domestic premises.
Where two sessions are offered in any one day, individual children must not attend more than five sessions a week. There must be a break between sessions with no children remaining in the care of the provider.
This type of care offers parents part-time childcare for their child and it gives the child the opportunity to engage in activities with their peer group, e.g. playgroups.
Find out more: www.ofsted.gov.uk
What is a Crèche?
A crèche provides occasional care for children under the age of eight years. The care provided is for more than five days a year and is on particular premises. A crèche needs to be registered if it operates for a total of more than 2 hours a day. Individual children may attend for shorter periods.
Some crèches are in permanent premises and care for children while parents are engaged in particular activities, e.g. shopping, sport or training. Others are established on a temporary basis to care for children while their parents are involved in time-limited activities, e.g. specific training, a conference or exhibition.
Find out more: www.ofsted.gov.uk
What is Out of School Childcare?
Out of School Childcare provides day care for children under the age of eight years. This childcare operates during one or more of the following periods:
- Before school
- After school
- During the school holidays
The total care provided is for more than 2 hours in any day and for more than five days a year. One of the main purposes of the provision is to look after children whilst their parents are at work, training or involved in some other activity. Out of school care may include children from three years old and children over eight years may use it, e.g. summer camps, holiday play schemes, breakfast clubs, after school clubs.
Open access schemes are included. These may be permanent or short-term schemes and generally cater for older children, however, children aged 5-7 may attend. The main purpose of the provision is to provide supervised play opportunities for children in a safe environment in the absence of their parents.
What is a Childminder?
A childminder is a person registered to look after one or more children under the age of eight to whom they are not related, on domestic premises for reward and for a total of more than 2 hours in any day.
Find out more: www.ofsted.gov.uk
What is a Childminding Network?
A childminding network is a group of registered childminders who are assessed, recruited and monitored by a dedicated network co-ordinator. It is a network that has been formally approved by the National Childminding Association (NCMA) and is known as a Children Come First network.
A Children Come First childminding network ensures that childminders provide a high quality care and education service to families. Childminders in a childminding network provide care and education for children from birth to 14 years.
For more information click onto: www.ncma.org.uk
For help or more information call the Learner Support Helpline on 0845 600 7979
