Can You Use Funded Hours at More Than One Nursery?
Funded childcare hours in England can usually be divided between more than one approved provider. A child might attend a nursery for part of the week and a childminder on another d...
Childcare Resources
Practical childcare guides for parents and providers, covering choosing childcare, nursery life, funding, costs, settling in and early years advice.
How to Help a Shy Child Feel More Comfortable at Nursery
Some children walk into nursery and begin exploring before their parent has taken off their coat. Others stay close, watch quietly and need much more time before speaking, joining...
When Do Funded Childcare Hours Start?
Funded childcare hours in England usually begin at the start of the funding period after a child reaches the relevant age. They do not normally start on the child’s birthday...
What Should You Look for During a Nursery Tour?
A nursery tour gives you an opportunity to see beyond the photographs, inspection rating and carefully written description. You can observe how the setting works, how adults speak...
What Should Parents Tell Nursery About Their Child?
When a child starts nursery, practitioners need more than a name, date of birth and emergency contact number. They need to understand the child as a person: what comforts them, how...
What Nursery Managers Should Include on a Public Provider Profile
A public nursery profile is often one of the first places a parent encounters a childcare provider. It may appear on a nursery directory, local authority website, search platform o...
What Is a Childcare Code and How Do You Use It?
A childcare code is used to show that a family qualifies for the funded childcare available to eligible working parents in England. Parents receive the code through their governmen...
How to Compare Two Nurseries Without Relying on First Impressions
First impressions matter when visiting a nursery, but they are not always reliable. A bright entrance, beautiful garden or confident manager can make one setting feel immediately a...
How to Build a Good Morning Routine Before Nursery
Nursery mornings can feel surprisingly demanding. A parent may be trying to get ready for work while finding clean clothes, preparing breakfast, packing a bag and persuading a tire...
How to Explain Funded Childcare Options Clearly to Parents
Funded childcare is valuable to families, but the way it is explained can make it sound far more complicated than it needs to be. Parents may encounter terms such as universal hour...
How Do You Apply for Funded Childcare?
Applying for funded childcare can feel more complicated than the headline promise of 15 or 30 hours suggests. Parents may encounter an online childcare account, eligibility codes,...
Nursery Separation Anxiety: What Is Normal and When Does It Improve?
Many children cry, cling to a parent or protest when it is time to go into nursery. Some become upset as soon as they recognise the journey. Others appear cheerful until the moment...