Childcare.co.uk is a website and app that makes it easy to find local quality childcare. This comprehensive website with over two million members is a portal that connects childcare providers such as babysitters, nannies, childminders, nursery nurses, private tutors, and out of school clubs to parents and guardians.
On the simplest level, it allows you to use their search bar and search for a childcare provider within a certain distance of your postcode. Within 10 miles of my postcode, there are 60 childminders so I was impressed!
Of course, it doesn't personally vet the person but it allows you to see what they have written about their qualifications, experience, skills, and fees. I would call it an online advert. It does, however, allow the provider of care to upload documents to verify their qualifications and certificates such as nursery nurse and childcare qualifications and that they have an enhanced DBS check (formerly CRB). An enhanced DBS check is essential for a childminder as it's a police check that shows any criminal history and checks they are safe to work with children.
Registering is free and simple and straightforward to do.
By registering you can create a free profile to advertise for carers, read reviews and use their messaging service to talk to carers that have a gold membership. If you are looking for work you can register for a free profile too.
For more benefits, you can also pay for gold membership which is currently £24.99 a month. This means you can message anyone on their database, both free and gold members, and also have access to more information about them such as phone numbers. Other benefits include up to 30 minutes free legal advice on childcare and family matters, free accountancy advice and free online access to Creative Steps magazine. A big plus point is also access to over 200 free online training courses relevant to the childcare scene, how brilliant is that! You also get a free Tastecard with discounts on meals, attractions and cinema tickets. If you are a childminder or nanny you can opt-in for free insurances too so that's also a big perk of Gold membership. All these benefits are worth over £5500 is it's worth considering signing up.
Childcare.co.uk were also announced as the winner of a Department For Education competition in 2015 to find innovative ways to help parents choose the right childcare, so they now have Government funding to help parents find provision before and after school hours.
In conclusion, I would say if you are looking for childcare or looking to advertise the childcare service that you offer, it's definitely worth taking a look at the Childcare.co.uk portal and seeing what they can offer you. I would personally recommend signing up for the free membership and exploring more what the website and app can offer.
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We have two children and have been able to work around my job (freelance) and grandparent help. But I know for many, finding childcare can be a scary process. Good to know there are resources like this out there :)
ReplyDeleteFinding a good childcare provider which is reputable is so important for working and busy parents. Glad you have recommended the services of childcare.co.uk. I will be checking them out to see if we can use their services
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like an amazing app! Finding great childcare can be a stressful so having an app to help narrow people down and help with the search gets a big thumbs up from me! I will definitely be checking this out in the future with my own children so thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWe love away from our families, although my husband's is closest, we still don't have easy access to childcare especially for babysitting etc. This sounds like a great way to help us find the childcare we need from time to time
ReplyDeleteI don't have much help when it comes to childcare, and think services like this can be so beneficial. Will definitely look into this and give it a try.
ReplyDeleteWe've used www.childcare.co.uk before and it's really good and trustworthy. It was recommend by a couple of friends. Great to see you promoting it too!
ReplyDeleteWhat a super resource! I really could have used something like this when I used to go out to work.
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