Guides for parents
Plain-English guides to choosing and paying for childcare in England, checked against gov.uk.
Ofsted nursery report cards explained
What the new Ofsted report cards for nurseries mean, how they differ from Outstanding and Good, and how to read them.
Funded childcare hours explained
Who gets 15 or 30 funded childcare hours in England, from what age, how to apply and what nurseries can charge for.
Tax-Free Childcare: how it works
How Tax-Free Childcare works: the government adds £2 for every £8 you pay, up to £2,000 a year per child (£4,000 if disabled).
Choosing a nursery: questions to ask on a visit
A practical checklist for visiting nurseries: staff, ratios, settling in, food, fees and what to look for in the rooms.
Starting nursery: settling in
How to prepare your child for starting nursery, what settling-in sessions involve and how to cope with goodbyes.
Day nursery, pre-school or childminder?
The differences between day nurseries, pre-schools and playgroups, and childminders in England, and how to choose.
Costs and funding where you live
See nursery numbers, Ofsted results, funded hours and prices shared by nurseries in your council area or town.