by InspiredWritingResearch

Created on: February 15, 2008   Last Updated: December 13, 2009

Before searching for the best websites for childcare in the UK, it's a good idea to visit The National Day Nurseries Association website - www.ndna.org.uk - for some good advice.

This website has some great content on choosing the very best childcare you can afford for a most precious and irreplaceable being in your life - your child. It attests that is aiming to promote high quality provision of care and education for pre-schoolers.

Among the other articles on legislation, training and news, there is a section on how to choose a day nursery. This arms visitors with the tips they need to make an informed and balanced decision. One particularly useful section highlights Case Studies. This is valuable in that it provides a benchmark by which other childcare establishments can be measured - showing how successful settings should look in practice.

After making some notes, visitors will be ready to browse through the many other websites for childcare in the UK, such as the UK's largest - "Busy Bees."

This childcare website is bright and cheerful, with a red and white color theme. The layout is crisp, clear and inviting with an image of two kids in lion and tiger dress-up grinning out!

One seemingly minor, but nonetheless commendable feature, is the provision of contact numbers across the bottom of this home page. There is nothing more frustrating than getting enthusiastic over finding a suitable website than having to sift through all the pages again to locate a contact number.

Busy Bees, which is the UK's largest day nursery provider, has been established for twenty five years and this engenders confidence. Parents can read a friendly and reassuring section on the reasons why they should choose this provider. They can then search for their most local Busy Bees childcare setting by entering their postal code.

There is also a section called "Meet the Parents." It's always comforting to see happy and satisfied childcare clients. This childcare provider seems to pride itself on having nationwide standards in place, although it is also careful to point out that provision is always tailored to local needs. For example, some of its settings provide an Out of School Club service.

A favorite though, has to be the "Read it Yourself Book" feature of the website! This is a page-turner which looks as though the babies themselves have written all about their activities ...."A Day In The Life Of." This seemed to provide the most comprehensive and instant view of what it is really like to attend this childcare setting!

However, it must be said that at the end of the day, it is the parent who has the grave and responsible task of selecting the right safe childcare. Some parents take this so seriously that they even look for day nurseries that have "nanny cams."

Word of mouth from other trusted parents and health professionals is valuable, and parents can always sit in one of the little chairs for a moment and think "Would I be happy to spend time here?"

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