Childcare Choices
| Services that must be Registered. | Services that do not need to be Registered. |
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2. Au pairs 3. Babysitters 4. Crêches 6. Nannies |
Nowadays there are so many different kinds of family set ups, all with a variety of needs and demands on their time and income. Therefore you will need to work out which is the best arrangement for you - from a personal point of view as well as a financial one.
For an overview of the childcare choices take a look at this useful publication:
Above is a list of Childcare Services; they are split into two groups: those that have to be registered and those that do not have to be.
Anyone who provides a childcare service for more than 2 hours a day for children under the age of 8 must register with the Care & Social Services Inspectorate for Wales (CSSIW). Registered services must meet National Minimum Standards, as laid down by the National Assembly for Wales' regulations and the minimum standards set for each type of childcare service. The Regulations and Standards are available from the CSSIW and can be accessed via the CSSIW website
To register with the CSSIW, a childcare service must ensure that:
* premises are safe and suitable
* staff are appropriately qualified
* staff have received health and Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) clearance and other references have been checked
* equipment and activities are appropriate for the number and ages of children
* registration is maintained by an annual CSSIW inspection and a CSSIW report is on display
The fact that some services are un-registered does not mean that they lack quality; some choose not to register for a number of reasons.
Please note that if you use un-registered childcare you will not be able to claim the childcare element of the Working Tax Credit.
