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In this section: Become a childcare provider; After school and holiday childcare; Help with childcare costs; Family and Young People Information Service; Childcare Affordability Scheme

Childcare

FYi - The Family and Young People's Information Service

This page contains information about childcare, including the types of childcare available in the City and how to access them.

Contact the City of London's Family and Young People's Information Service (FYi) to find out more about childcare and get advice about choosing a provider.

Find out about the support available to help with the cost of childcare for parents and carers working and living in the City of London.

What is registered childcare?

The term ‘registered childcare’ describes services that children under eight years old attend for more than two hours at a time without a parent or carer present. All services like this must register with Ofsted and undergo regular inspections.

You can read more about the legal requirements of registered childcare and read the latest inspection reports of all registered childcare providers at www.ofsted.gov.uk

There are three main types of registered childcare:

Early years childcare: for children under five years old (including free nursery places)
Out of school childcare: for children of school age (usually from five
Childminders: for children of any age up to eight years, this childcare is usually provided in the childminder’s own home

Nannies, au pairs, friends and family may also provide care for your child, however, as they are not legally required to register with Ofsted they do not come under the title of registered childcare. Nannies and au pairs can choose to register on Ofsted's voluntary childcare register, which means that parents and carers can use childcare vouchers or the childcare element of Working Tax Credit to pay towards the cost of their fees.

The childcare does not include parent toddler groups, Stay and Plays or other activities that parents and carers attend with their children because you remain responsible for your children at these activities.

Childcare in the City of London

The following types of registered childcare are available in the City of London:

nurseries
sessional playgroups
childminders
out of school clubs and holiday playschemes

Nurseries in the City of London

Day nurseries are open Monday - Friday for as much as 10 hours or more for 48 - 50 weeks of the year. To find out more about a particular nursery click on the relevant link below.

Nurseries maintained by the local authority

Cass Child and Family Centre

Golden Lane Children's Centre

Nurseries in the private sector

Bright Horizons City Child

Newpark Childcare Centre

Smithfield House Children’s Nursery

Barbican Playgroup

Childminders

Childminders provide childcare in a domestic environment - usually their own home. They are registered to care for children up to eight years old.

Although the environment can be quite different to a nursery or playgroup, childminders are still required to provide the same kind of learning opportunities for under fives as other early years settings. Childminders can also provide childcare before and after school and pick children up from schools and other childcare settings.

There are three Ofsted registered childminders in the City of London. You can contact them directly to ask about their fees and vacancies and to discuss your requirements. Once you have chosen a childminder you should work with them to draw up a contract that records your child's requirements. It should include for example, clothes and dietary requirements, pick up times etc.

You can contact FYi for more information and advice on finding and choosing a childminder.

City of London Childminders

Indu Pubari
T: 020 7628 0229
E: indu@pabari.org.uk
Based in the Barbican area

Felicity Hebblewhite
T: 07984 561 977
Based in the Barbican area

Childminders in Islington

Information about childminders in Islington

Useful websites

The National Childminding Association (NCMA)

The NCMA has lots of useful information about what questions to ask a prospective childminder Childcare.co.uk Search this database to find childminders across London.

Childcare in neighbouring areas

Seven local authority areas border the City of London. If you live near the border with one of these it might be useful to look at the childcare available there.

Each of the following Family Information Services can be contacted for information and advice about childcare in their particular borough. Click on the links below to search their Family Information Service Directory.

For more information and support please contact FYi - the City's Family and Young People's Information Service

Disabled children

Children with disabilities may be able to receive additional financial support. Parents may also use childcare for short break care. Contact FYi for more details.

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