Useful childcare websites
The following links are to organisations and groups who offer advice and help on finding childcare, regulation of childcare and assistance available to help pay for care.
NSPCC - all sorts of useful information, such as 'When is it safe to leave my child alone', practical information on managing children's behaviour, child safety etc.
Ofsted - The Office for Standards in Education, the body which registers and regulates childcare provision. You can look for the latest inspection reports on local providers.
Child Benefit - for information on child benefits and tax credits, administered by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.
Daycare Trust, the national childcare charity, provides information to parents, childcare providers, employers, trade unions, local authorities and policy makers.
Working Families works with parents, carers and organisations to help children, working parents and carers and their employers find a better balance between the responsibilities at home and work. The site hosts discussion forums for working families.
Family Action offers advice and guidance on funding to those studying in post-16 education in the UK. Services are free to individual students. They publish a guide to student funding, some of which is available on their website.
Next Step offers training courses and advice on training, also has details on the website about funding for childcare for students.
National Day Nurseries Association is the national membership organisation for UK day nurseries. They run a Quality Assurance Scheme called "Quality Counts".
The Pre-school Learning Alliance is a national educational charity and umbrella organisation linking 17,000 pre-school providers. The PLA Quality Assurance Scheme is called "Aiming for Quality".
4 Children is a national charity dedicated to creating opportunities and building futures for children. Particularly concerned with the provision of quality out of school care for children, the 4 Children Quality Assurance Scheme is called "Aiming High".
Sure Start is a government programme with the aim of delivering the best start in life for every child, bringing together early education, childcare, health and family support.
National Childminding Association is the membership organisation for childminders in England and Wales. A charity, it supports childminders by training, advice and support networks. The NCMA has a quality assurance scheme, NCMA Children Come First, for approving childminding networks. Their helpline is available to parents as well as childminders for advice on contractual matters.
