Advice on childcare options in SW2 for an unfamiliar mum?

[Arlingfordmum]

Hi All,

We will be moving back to Brixton (Arlingford Road) in April next year after 4.5 years living in Australia. I'm Australian, DH is British and while we did live for a short while together in London, it was in our hard-to-remember pre-baby days. I'm entirely unfamiliar with how childcare works in UK, and am not sure what options there are? And how difficult it is to get in to places? Here in Canberra if you want a long daycare spot you basically have to put your name down as soon as you find out your pregnant! And then call every week practically begging and hope that you'll get a spot by the time you go back to work. DH will be back in London for a few days in early September and I was thinking to send him to check out a few places and maybe put our name down if that was necessary, but I've no idea where to start. DD will be 18 months when we come back. Any advice gratefully received .

Welcome back to the Centre of the Universe. From Arlingford Road you'll be pretty close to Effra Nursery which has a lovely under-3s section. Your DD would be eligible once she turned two, which is pretty soon after you get back I have no idea how over/under-subscribed they are at the moment, but it is quite lovely (or was when we used it 2-3 years ago). It is great as they are (or can be!) very flexible on number of days and what hours you do, they have an extended day till 6 pm (costs extra, normal day is till 3 pm). And from there there would be progression to the brilliantly chaotic over-3s nursery. Definitely get your DH to pop in and put her name down and see if a place comes up.

I have also heard good things about Holmewood Nursery but that would be a bit of a trek.

See you in the playground in Brockwell Park. I have three rowdy school-aged boys so I doubt our paths will cross.

Click on the link in the first para on this page which takes you to the Lambeth Brochure which gives the name of every nursery and childcare provider. For childcare while you work you will need one of the private daycare nurseries, or a childminder.

Then when your DS is 3 you can think about one of the state nurseries - but once they are 3 you get the equivalent number of hours funded in the daycare nursery, so it gets much cheaper.

If you consider a childminder it is also worth signing up to SimplyChildCare as some childminders advertise there but are not on the Lambeth List. It is worth asking for the Southwark child minder list too, as some of Southwark - Herne Hill - is so close.

Childcare is expensive, especially when they are under 3. You can ask for your employer to pay nursery fees as a salary sacrifice and then you get the fees tax free, up to a certain level. Some employers use childcare or nursery vouchers for this - it is worth asking.

Nurseries I have heard of as being reputable and good are Nellie's (I think it is just in Southwark), Elm Park, towards Clapham, Little Angle in Brixton, Cherubins in Streatham Hill. But there will be others.

Thanks so much JustOffTheHill and BrixtonMortar. I must admit at times I'm a tiny bit daunted about the move back and living in a big city with a little person. So very appreciative of tips and tricks from those in the know. It's also reassuring to hear from other mums who are already raising little ones in Brixton - it makes it all seem a bit more real, and a bit more do-able. We had a great time the first time round in Brixton and I'm looking forward to the park and the lido and the market and the sense of community.

Brixton is a brilliant place to raise children! The kids facilities in Brockwell Park have been transformed, the play park and the paddling pool, which is now a sand and water park. The Whippersnappers music and drama groups at the Lido, the Ritzy has a kids club, the soft play at the Rec, etc etc.

But Brixton has transformed. House prices have mushroomed, the indoor market is now full of trendy cafes and restaurants alongside the fruit and veg and pigs trotters.

You might want to check out your school options early on.

Welcome back! (I am parent to older DC so won't be alongside you in the park, but good luck)