Nursery/Childminder

Not all nursery’s do it so early, when my daughter started going to hers, ( my eldest) she could of started going the week after ( if I was paying for hours) or the start of the next term ( free hours) but I think it’s common for the bigger nursery’s x

In my area there are just not many full day nurseries for I enrolled my twins Sept last year for July this year. But with twins it's harder to place them together. Childminders tend to have more flexibility and there are more of them dotted around so you'll probably find one sooner. They're also cheaper x

Where I live, yes you have to inquire/enroll like 6m-1y ahead otherwise you won’t find a place. In July, I tried to get my boy into the branch of his nursery which is closer to home and they told me to reach out again in April 2025 so we’re stuck with the one far away as that’s the only place available. Nurseries are run by a company, they have a dedicated building with staff and assigned carers who look after the kids in each class. Some nursery’s do 3-5 baby per carer in each class. Childminders however are mostly individuals, you take your baby to their homes to be looked after and in the evenings/at closing you go pick them up. I hear childminders are cheaper than nursery- maybe cos they use their homes for caring and don’t have to run an external facility. Some nurseries covers all of the food, water and diapers that your baby needs while they’re there. If I’m correct, you’d have to supply all that to a childminder I’d always opt for nurseries tho.

I enrolled both of mine before they were even born, it’s crazy out there especially with new funded hours available. None of the nurseries near us have any availability until 2027 🙈🙈

I think because the government funding came into place for babies from 9months old this month the number of places has rocketed also.

All nurseries near me had a 1-2 year wait list but depends where you are. Child minders tend to take bookings much closer to start Date or when a space Comes available