I'm pregnant but starting to think about childcare as friends have told me it's necessary to arrange in plenty of time. Child will be around 1 when it starts. We are unsure whether to go for nursery or childminder, can anyone advise on how you made the decision? I haven't yet looked at costs of either. Also my husband works his shift on a 2 week rota and we are unsure if such an arrangement could be made with a childcarer, e.g. we'd need 3 days' care on week and 1 the next week, then back to 3 then 1 and so on.
Childminder:
Pros:
Family environment, less institutional.
Option of more trips out and about.
Potential to last longer e.g. when child goes to school.
I think you only pay for the hours you have rather than full days? But unsure if I have this right.
Cons:
Everything hinges on one relationship going smoothly.
No other staff to see if childminder does something wrong.
Less facilities (e.g. only what they can fit in their house not what a whole nursery would have).
Childcare could be cancelled at late notice if childminder was ill - tricky as we have no family nearby.
We'd have to work around childminder's holidays.
Nursery:
Pros:
More staff so plenty of people to see good practice is upheld.
Available pretty much 365 days a year so no need for us to arrange our holidays to coincide with when they're off.
Always available even if a member of staff is off sick.
Better equipment / facilities than you're likely to find in a childminder's house.
Cons:
More school-type / institutional atmosphere, not so homely.
Potentially more expensive as you have to pay full days / half days rather than per hour - not sure this is correct though?
Fewer trips out.
Higher staff turn over.
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Nurseries
Nursery vs childminder, how to decide?
25 replies
ThePartyArtist · 28/07/2016 13:30
OP posts:
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