Choosing childcare and early education

Pre-school child on a swing

When choosing childcare and an early education setting consider your family situation and main reason for needing childcare including:

  • Your child's age 
  • Sibling's schooling arrangements (location, finish times)
  • Your family's jobs/study (flexibility, location and travel times)
  • Any support you have from family and friends
  • Your financial situation (remember you may be able to get help with childcare costs)

A combination of childcare may suit you best (using a childminder and a private day nursery or preschool playgroup).

All 3 and 4 year old children in the Rochdale Borough (Heywood, Middleton, Rochdale and Pennines) are eligible for 15 hours per week (term time only) of free early education from the term after their third birthday. Read more about the early years grant (317kb pdf).

Age of child

Reason for childcare

Options

0 – 2 years

Working full or part-time
Studying
Break for parent
Stimulation for child

0 – 2 years

Shift working
Evening or weekend working

2 – 3 years

As above

3 – 5 years

Free early education
(All children are entitled to 15 hours per week term time only)

5 and over

Out of school care
Holiday care

 

Making a complaint about a childcare provider

Sometimes parents and other people with an interest in childcare have complaints or concerns about the quality of a registered childcare service or childminder.

Ofsted can look into any matter related to the requirements and conditions of registration. We will also look into concerns about people providing childcare who are not registered with us as childcare providers.

Ofsted cannot deal with other issues you may have, such as disputes about contracts or fees.

Telling the childcare provider

Unless you think children are at risk of harm from the childcare provider, it is usually best if you discuss your concerns with the provider or the person in charge before you contact Ofsted. If you are a parent or carer and cannot sort out your concern through discussion, you can make a formal complaint by writing to the provider. The law says that providers must have a process for handling written complaints. Home childcarers do not need to have this process.

Telling Ofsted

Before contacting Ofsted, you may find it helpful to work out what you want to say and make a note of any relevant people, times and dates. Tell Ofsted if you have already discussed the matter with the provider and what action, if any, they took.