by Gillian Taber

Created on: March 11, 2011   Last Updated: March 12, 2011

Not so many years ago, childcare in England was a family affair. If mum and dad had to work to make ends meet, Grandma usually lived close by, often on the same street, and was on hand to look after the kids. If not, there was an aunt or even a next door neighbour. Today, childcare is a very different proposition. Families are often spread across a region, even on different continents and the ability to rely on family has disappeared for most. The concept of a street where neighbours are all friends, trusting and well-acquainted enough to allow children to run in and out of each others houses, are long gone.  So what options are left for English parents looking for childcare?

Hiring a nanny is really the preserve of those who are rich enough to afford one. The cheaper and more used option is a childminder. Childminders have to be regulated and vetted by the local authorities before they can register. There are strict rules and regulations about what a childminder can and cannot do, how their house is set up, and how many children they can watch at any one time. The National Childminding Association (http://www.ncma.org.uk/default.aspx) has a great deal of information about how to become a childminder and the requirements involved. Briefly, a childminder looks after a child away from its home (Nanny's look after a child in its own home). They are required to look after a varying number of children, 8 years old and under, for a minimum of two hours per day. The home must be child-safe, the childminder will be vetted for any criminal past (obviously including offences against children), will be asked to deliver what is known as the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage in learning) and be inspected by OFSTED (Office for Standards in Education) and the local authorities on a regular basis.

Nannies and au-pairs serve a similar role but are based in the child's home and are more likely to be involved with the family generally, often living in the home, especially if they care for the child full-time rather than during the parent's work hours, or after school. The eNannysource site (http://www.enannysource.com/) is excellent for more information about the work of and becoming a nanny in  the UK

Another option is led by schools, and is aimed at pupils alone. Schools can set up Breakfast Clubs and After School clubs which usually run for two hours at most and are often free or charged at a minimal fee as they are subsidised by the school's funds or the local authority.

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