childcare

A parents guide

handbook

The Childcare Handbook is designed to help you with one of your most important tasks as a parent finding and selecting care for your child. This handbook includes information about different types of childcare, ideas and lists to use when you are choosing care, and tips on what you can do to make childcare a positive experience for you and your family. Copyright 1991, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2004 Ceridian Centrefile Limited All rights reserved

Contents
Your childcare search external providers........................ 2
Understanding your options........................ 3 Different types of care...................................... 3 Your preferences.................................................. 6 Your childs needs................................................ 6 Your familys needs............................................. 7

Defining the job................................... 40

The basics.............................................................. 40 Defining job responsibilities............................ 41 Your childcarers qualifications....................... 44 What is the job worth?..................................... 45

Recruiting on your own.................... 47

Writing and placing an advertisement...... 47 Other ways to look for a carer....................... 50

Checking out your options.............. 8

Childminders.......................................................... 8 Day nurseries......................................................... 18 Pre-schools..............................................................19

Using a nanny agency....................... 52

About nanny agencies....................................... 52 How to select an agency.................................. 55

After youve made your choice..... 22

You and your carer.............................................. 22 Preparing your child........................................... 24 Handling childcare problems.......................... 25 Back-up care..........................................................26 When your child is ill......................................... 27

Choosing a carer.................................. 58
Screening candidates......................................... 58 Interviewing........................................................... 66 References and background checks.............69

In-home childcare...............................28
Common terms.....................................................29 A nanny and her training.................................29 A British mothers help......................................33 A foreign mothers help....................................33 Au pairs....................................................................33 Part-time and holiday childcarers................39

Becoming an employer..................... 73
Starting off on the right foot........................ 73 Your legal role as an employer...................... 74 House rules.............................................................74 Work agreement...................................................77 Building a partnership with your nanny... 81 Reviewing your carers performance............85 86 When your carer leaves.....................................

Housekeeper...........................................................39 Babysitter................................................................39 39 Important tips to keep in mind.....................

Glossary.................................................. 87

Your chiIdcare search external providers

Every year more parents join the workforce, some out of choice, others out of necessity. What they all have in common is wanting to know that their children are well looked after while they are at work. Choosing the right childcare is important for your peace of mind and the wellbeing of your child. It can be complicated because of the number of things you must consider before you decide. You have to identify the kind of help you need, taking into account your childs age and personality, and your own preferences. You have to consider cost, location and the hours you require. You also need to make an informed choice from the options available so you are comfortable that you are leaving your child in good hands. Ceridian Centrefile, the company that provides your employers LifeWorks service, offers information and support to help you. You can call the service at any time, free of charge. A LifeWorks consultant can:
I talk with you about your needs I help you understand your options, the different types of care available to you I Iisten to your questions and concerns I send you useful checklists, tip sheets, and booklets, like this handbook I tell you about people and places locally that might be able to provide care for your child through Childrens

Infomation Service. Your LifeWorks consultant and this handbook will give you information and ideas so you can make your own decision about the care thats best for your family.

All forms of childcare have advantages and disadvantages, and within each you are likely to find a wide range of quality.
Understanding your options
Right from the beginning you will want to look for:
I a steady, reliable arrangement I caring people who like children I a healthy and safe environment I interesting, challenging daily activities for your child

These qualities can be found in all types of care. What is important is to think about the kind of childcare you want for your child.

Different types of care

Childcare falls into two very broad categories: care provided by family members or friends and care provided by someone else on a professional basis. Some people feel happiest if a family member can care for their children (a grandparent, partner with different work hours or even an older child). Many do so because this option is free or cheaper than employing a professional. Some people ask friends to care for their children, although by law the friend should register as a childminder. Nearly half of all childcare arrangements are informal. Nevertheless, even leaving your child with a family member needs thought and the LifeWorks service can help you with tips and ideas for making the arrangement work as well as possible. Many parents combine care given by a family member with another arrangement: using a grandparent two days a week, for instance and a nursery school for the rest of the week. Even if you have a workable arrangement with a trusted relative of the family, there may be times when you need to find back-up care or as your children grow older they may need or want a different kind of care. For these and other reasons, it helps to be aware of the alternative options available to you. This handbook focuses on the other forms of childcare that you might need to use:
I childminder I shared nanny I day nursery I nursery school I holiday playschemes I nanny/mothers help I au pair I pre-school I out-of-school schemes I combinations of care

All these forms of care have advantages and disadvantages, and within each you are likely to find a range of quality. No method is better or worse than another it depends on the individuals involved and the standards set and maintained. The next chapter offers tips on how to recognise quality, while this chapter concentrates on explaining the differences between the types of care. This will help you decide which fits best with what you want for your child.

Childminders are usually parents themselves, looking after the children in their own homes. By law anyone who is not a relative must register with Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education) before looking after other peoples children regularly for more than two hours a day for payment. Childminders will not be registered until they have been vetted and their homes have been checked for safety. Including her own children, a childminder is allowed to care for three under-5s, only one of whom can be under a year or under special circumstances (i.e. twins) can have permission to care for two children under the age of one. She may look after a further three who are over 5 but under 8. Your child will be in a homely, family environment, often with other children for company. Childminders usually offer full-day care (typically 8am-6pm). Many take children part-time (for instance, pick up school-age children when school is over), but this usually costs more per hour. Note that in some cases childminders will be registered to care for more or fewer children than stated above. Therefore, it would be wise to check the registration terms of each individual. Nannies/mothers helps look after your children in your own home. A nanny, who might be professionally trained or not, expects the job mainly to involve caring for your child, whereas a mothers help (who has no training) is usually prepared to do some general housework as well. She will either live in or come to you every day or when needed. As sole employer you are able to define very precisely the way you want your child looked after, and what the duties are but it is also up to you to vet your chosen candidate carefully. In addition, you must pay attention to being a good employer if the arrangement is to work well and your carer is to want to continue looking after your child. Although this is an expensive option for one child, it can become cost-effective when you have other children, especially if, because of their ages, they have different needs which would otherwise involve a complicated patchwork of arrangements. Shared nannies are carers who look after another familys children as well as yours. The nanny might live with one of you or come daily. The care of the children might be alternated between your homes, or be mostly based in one of them. If more than two families share, then the nanny must be registered in the same way as a childminder. Sharing is cheaper than paying for a nanny by yourself, and gives your child company, but there are complications as well. Both sets of parents must agree about child-rearing so that the nanny does not have conflicting instructions. Co-ordinating holiday times and other practical details need to be carefully worked out. Au pairs are young women (usually, but there are some men) who live as members of the family and help out in return for a reasonable allowance. Technically, an au pair is aged 17-27 who comes from abroad to study English therefore, you are most likely to find an au pair if you live in a relatively large town with access to english-as-a-foreign-language courses. She is expected to help you out for five hours or less per day, and is supposed to have two full days off per week. She is therefore unlikely to be available to offer childcare for parents working full-time, neither would it be sensible to rely on her for the care of younger children. She is given pocket money rather than wages, as she is considered to be a guest, not an employee. As a guideline, you could expect as much from an au pair as you would from a grown-up child still living at home. They can be most useful in helping to look after school-age children, who need to be collected, given tea, and looked after till you return. However, any young person that does not come from a country within the designated au pair scheme would expect to be treated as an employee. As an employer you would then be subject to many of the same responsibilities as for a nanny or mothers help (and expected to observe national minimum wage requirements).

Day nurseries offer care and education to groups of children in nonresidential settings and from the ages of 3-5 years, educational activities will follow the Early Years Curriculum (EYC). Most day nurseries stay open between 8am and 6pm, yearround, except for a short holiday period. Apart from this, nurseries come in various guises: workplace crches, local-authority-run, community-based and private. Local authority or subsidised places are usually reserved for families with exceptionally difficult circumstances or where the children are deemed to be at risk. Some nurseries take babies from the age of three months and it may even be possible to find a place for a younger baby. Many only accept over twos. All must be registered with Ofsted under the requirements of the Childrens Act. Day nurseries will vary in how they organise themselves, for example, some may keep children of the same age together and others may not. For all day nurseries however, play is the medium through which learning is encouraged. Pre-schools (formerly known as playgroups) offer care and education to groups of children aged from 21/2 years to 5. Most pre-schools provide only part-time care through sessions, and rely on parental involvement making them a less suitable option for full-time working parents. However, a growing number of pre-schools are offering extended sessions to meet the needs of working families. Nursery schools usually follow school terms and hours (or even shorter), so they are not a full-time care option. They rarely take children younger than 3 though some accept children six months younger. The emphasis is on education and preparing the children for school. Some primary schools have nursery classes for 3 or 4-year-olds attached to them. Out-of-school schemes or kids clubs provide supervised activities for children of school age after school (and a few before school begins). Some also provide care during the holidays, or a separate scheme might fill in during this time. They might be attached to the school, a leisure centre or in a local community centre, and may be subsidised. More expensive options for older children during the long holidays include residential summer camps with organised activities. Holiday playschemes provide supervised activities for children of school age during the holidays. These schemes are organised by the local authority, community groups or private providers. Most operate during the long summer holiday but some also open at other breaks during the year. More expensive options for older children during the long summer holidays include residential summer camps with organised activities. Combinations of care means using a number of different options: for example, you might choose a nursery school in the morning and childminder in the afternoon, or take your child to your sister for a couple of days each week and use a day nursery the rest of the time.

Which is the right care?

When you are thinking about the different kinds of care, you will want to consider:
I your preferences I the age, personality, and needs of your child I the needs of the rest of your family I the location of your workplace and home relative to the care youre considering I the hours your child will need care I what you can afford to pay

These considerations will help you narrow down your options and then you can base your decision on the quality of the choices available.

Your preferences
Parents tend to have strong ideas about what they want for their children in their absence. You might feel that a home-from-home environment and experienced mothering as offered by a childminder, would be most reassuring for you and your child. Or you might feel instead that it is far better for children to be cared for in their own homes, with familiar routines and toys, looked after by one dedicated carer such as a nanny. Some parents feel more comfortable knowing that their child is at a nursery being cared for in a group with other children and a variety of carers.

Your childs needs

You want to know that while youre at work your child is safe, happy and being treated with respect and affection. This is the basic minimum. Afterwards more subtle considerations come into play, depending on your childs individual needs, which become clearer the older your child is. Some children are happiest in small, quiet groups. Others do better in larger groups with lots of activity. Think about your childs personality and needs before you come to a firm decision. Remember that your child is growing and changing and will have different needs in the future. It is good for your child to stay with the same people but only as long as the arrangement seems right for them.

When to start childcare

Leaving an infant in someone elses care is usually a wrench for parents at the beginning. Some babies take it in their stride, others are more upset but most settle down within a short time when the carer is pleasant, experienced, and becomes a familiar and liked figure. Finding the right care arrangement for your child is more important than deciding on the right age to begin childcare. It is worth bearing in mind, however, that some time between the ages of 7 and 15 months babies become very aware of the difference between familiar people and strangers. They do not yet realise that when you are out of sight temporarily you are not gone for ever resulting in tears and protests. This awareness is a sign of healthy development. This stage is called stranger awareness it usually doesnt last long and babies reactions vary when they reach it. Many babies become upset whenever a parent leaves the room, even at home. Some experts believe it is better to start childcare before or after this stage, because in rare cases the problem may be so severe that parents might have to change their childcare plans. Generally though, young children pick up on your feelings. Your baby is more likely to be happy with a childcare arrangement if you are happy with it. A LifeWorks consultant can help you understand your feelings when you first have to leave your child and can give you some ideas and tips on how to plan for the change. This includes working with your carer to make the separation as easy as possible for you and your child.

A child with special needs

A child with special needs, like all children, needs care that is comforting, stimulating, and safe and may also need additional considerations. If you have a child who has special needs, call LifeWorks. You will be helped to think through your childs care needs and the consultant will suggest resources, including any specialist care that may be available.

No matter what type of care youre exploring, be sure to ask about all the fees and charges, including charging policy for holidays.
Your familys needs
Location
Some parents feel better knowing that their children are close to their workplace; others find transporting children back and forth difficult, so look for care closer to home. Your decision about location will depend on whats available and what you think will work for your family. Not every area offers the same childcare. In some areas high demand means that there is a mismatch between parents requirements and available childcare. If theres not much provision for young children in your neighbourhood you may want to search along the route to work. Friendships with other children become more important to school-age children, so at this stage you may want to find something nearer home or school. It may affect your plans if you have more than one child. Some parents wish to have all their children in the same childcare arrangement for convenience or because it gives their children a chance to spend more time together. A parent of a toddler, for instance, might look for a childminder near an older childs school, where both children can be together in the late afternoon. Unless you have a carer who comes to you, youll have to think about who will take and collect your child. If two of you share this responsibility, the location of your childs care will need to be convenient to both commuting routes and with children in more than one place youll have to think about co-ordinating those locations and hours as well.

Hours
Your work hours and the location you select will affect the hours you need care. If you choose care near work, your child will arrive later and leave earlier than if you choose care near home. If you select care near home, youll have to allow for travel time back to your neighbourhood to pick up your child. If you work at night, rotate shifts, stay late at work, or travel out of town, you may have additional childcare needs to consider. Most nurseries and kids clubs close by 6pm, and the few private ones that will stay open later charge high fees accordingly. Childminders may be more flexible in meeting the needs of those who work in the evening or at night, or whose work hours change frequently but they will also expect overtime for this and it is not usual for them to work at weekends. Nannies and mothers helps (particularly those who live in) are likely to be the most flexible option of all but they need fair warning about lateness or changed hours and usually expect some financial reward or time off in lieu if it happens more than occasionally.

Fees and other costs

The cost of childcare can vary greatly depending on where you live, the age of your child, and the type of care you choose. Some provision, such as out of school schemes, may be subsidised or have a sliding scale of charges according to your income. Remember that if you have a nanny or au pair living in, there are hidden costs in higher bills and extra food, also to a lesser degree with a carer who comes to your home. Before you begin your search, think about how much youre able to pay. Be sure to ask about all fees and charges, and whether they are inclusive. Some childcare options may charge extra for registration, transport, materials or food. Some have reduced rates for siblings. Some have sliding fees based on a parents income, so that lower-income families pay less. A LifeWorks consultant will be able to give you a general guide to the costs of the different types of childcare.

Checking out your options

When you have some idea of what kind of childcare you want, and have found out what is available in your area, the next step is to visit the ones you are considering. Youll also want to interview anyone who may be caring for your child. This chapter will provide guidance in what to look for and questions to ask. After you have made your visits, asked questions, read material, interviewed carers and checked their references, you will have a lot of relevant information. Ultimately however, your instinctive reactions to questions you ask yourself are the most important. Do I trust this person or programme? Do I feel comfortable leaving my child here? Would my child like it here? Once you have thought about your childs needs, your familys needs, and how much you can pay, your next step is to think about what really goes into quality childcare. There are different things to look for when judging care quality, and some will seem more important to you than others. You might value a warm, maternal carer more highly than one who is a good teacher, for instance or the other way round. But even setting aside these differences, there are basic minimum standards that ensure quality. However good a teacher or however maternal the carer is if there are too many children competing for attention then your child will receive less than you would like. You will also want to feel that the environment is safe, that your child is happy and secure and that there is healthy food and plenty of opportunity for play and exercise. This chapter looks at these and less obvious things that might not have occurred to you before.

Quality and different types of care

The quality standards can vary in any type of care, whether its a nursery, childminder, nanny, or a relative. Keep an open mind as you examine your options putting high standards of care above type of care when you make your choice. For instance, you might think youd prefer a childminder, but havent interviewed one you are happy with. Meanwhile an excellent day nursery has a vacancy. It makes sense in this case to choose the nursery. Or, you might have decided you want a nursery for your child but if you cant find a good convenient one with space it would be better to go for an excellent childminder or nannyshare if that is available.

Childminders
As parents must generally give childminders at least one months notice, you will probably want to start looking for a childminder at least six weeks before you intend your child to start childcare bearing in mind you will need a settling in period. Before making any decisions you will want to meet any childminders you are considering and visit their homes. It would be worth making appointments to visit several childminders. Before making appointments, read the Questions to ask the childminder that follow this section. Make a copy and add any questions of your own to the back of it. When adding your own questions and trying to decide what kind of person you want, you need to think about what is important to you. That way, if you are not satisfied with the answer, you neednt pursue the visit (for example, how many other children the childminder cares for or whether she has a pet if your child has an allergy).

Take your copy of the questions with you when you visit the childminder and jot down notes. It will help you remember the important points when making a choice between carers and will also serve to remind you when you describe the visit to a partner or another concerned relative. If you know someone friend, neighbour, or through recommendation who is not a registered childminder but would be willing to care for your child and with whom you feel comfortable, you can help her make arrangements to register. Bear in mind that it usually takes about three months for registration to come through but it can take longer and it is technically illegal to operate as a childminder until it does.

Talking with a childminder

During your visit you will learn much of what you want to know by chatting informally and watching the childminder deal with the children in her care. Childminders, particularly those who are mothers themselves, have their own ways of doing things and what you need to discover is how closely these match yours. It may be best to make the first visit a social one and arrange to go back if you are happy with your first impressions to ask your questions. These questions will give you basic information and then you have to decide your response to it. For instance, your reaction to the number and ages of the children she looks after will be determined by whether you feel your child would be happiest with only one or two other under-5s, or in a mixed group, with older children coming in after school. When you talk about the typical day the childminder could offer your child, it is also a good opportunity for you to tell the minder what you would like and expect: perhaps with a young baby you want to be sure of a regular routine and a quiet atmosphere; with a boisterous older child you might prefer to know that there would be plenty of chance to run around outside. If the childminder lives in a flat you will want to know where the nearest play area is, and how easy it is to get there. You can expect a childminder to offer the mix of activities a mother would offer her own children: going to the shops; to the library or the one-oclock club; helping around the home; some time in front of the television or video. When the children in her care are a little older she might take them on trips or to a playground. You will want to know about and meet, anyone else who is regularly in the home during the day, either helping or because they live there, before you make up your mind. There is no legal requirement that a childminder should have formal training but her experience is relevant. Childminders need to gain their ICP Introduction to Childminding Practice and first aid during their registration period. You may also be reassured to know that she has successfully brought up happy, healthy children of her own and if she has taken any childcare courses it will show her commitment. Asking why she became a childminder can tell you more about her. You want someone who enjoys the company and the raising of children. Asking about her own family and their plans to stay in the neighbourhood is also useful. Knowing, for instance, that she has children at local schools and family nearby, is a sign that she is probably well-rooted locally and is likely to stay put. This means that if the arrangement works well she can be a continuing presence in your childs life. Some childminders like to continue to care for children they have come to know well so she could theoretically go from looking after your baby full-time to picking him up from school many years later.

Look for someone with clear rules, who encourages children with support and praise, rather than humiliating or embarrassing them when they misbehave.
Encourage the childminder to tell you about some of the children she has taken care of. You can learn by asking how she handles specific problems. Look for someone with clear rules (which you support) and who handles behaviour in a way of which you approve. Be sure to ask about her experience with children who are the same age and temperament as your child. Youll want to know what kind of food she provides and her ideas on nutrition. Ask how she usually exchanges information with parents about their children. You will want to tell her things yourself (for instance, that your child had a bad night, or is upset about something) and youll want to know about your childs day (any good news or problems). Is there time for a chat at the start or end of the day? Do you both write notes or talk on the phone during nap times or in the early morning or evening? The childminder must keep attendance records and some choose to monitor the development and the general day to day routine of the child. She will almost certainly have her own contract (particularly if she is a member of the National Childminding Association), which you should ask to see. You can then talk through it point by point so that your concerns about fees, extras, hours, holidays, notice and so on are answered. You will want to know in advance if you have to continue paying when the childminder is on holiday or your child does not attend due to sickness or holidays. Childminders will not always care for children who are sick and you will need to discuss this with them so that you know when you will need to make other arrangements. As a general guide for holiday arrangements, it is usual for there to be a charge if the service is available (that is, if you and your child are the ones that take the holiday) and this may be up to the full fee. However, if the service is not available (that is, the childminder is on holiday) then many carers do not charge. Some childminders choose to spread these costs throughout the year as part of their fee. Ask about whether she belongs to any childminding association and what that means in practice. You can also ask about what back-up she gets from Ofsted. A good local authority can help with loans of toys and may even offer courses, or a drop-in centre for childminders. Do ask for names of other parents to call for a reference. A good childminder will be proud to give you these. Chat to them over the phone or meet them if you can and get their views on how she has looked after their children.

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Things to look for

Looking round the childminders home will tell you much of what you need to know. She would expect you to want to see the rooms where the children will be. You will see whether she smokes, keeps pets and her general standards of hygiene. You will want it to be clean but a certain amount of untidiness is to be expected if there are curious young children around it also shows that she is relaxed about them playing. You will want to check that the childminder follows basic safety rules and practices. Ofsted will carry out checks annually to ensure rules and practices are upheld, but you need to satisfy yourself that it is as you would wish. Take a look at any outside play areas as well. A LifeWorks consultant can give you tips and information on safety for children of different ages, which will help you know what to look out for. If you like what you see, arrange to go back again, preferably at a different time. You should visit while there are children there, so that you can see the childminder and children together. How does she spend her time? Involving herself with the childrens activities? Cleaning up after them? Talking and playing with them? Does she try to give each child individual attention? Does she seem to be the kind of person that could make your child comfortable?

Recognising quality care

During the past 25 years, a great deal of research has been done into the quality of childcare. Not surprisingly the results show that the better the quality, the better it is for the children involved. The research has also given us some understanding of the factors that affect childcare quality, including:
I child:adult ratio I group size I qualifications of the people who give the care I educational environment I the parents role I discipline I the physical space I continuity of care

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The ratio the number of children per adult is important because it has a direct impact on how much individual attention your child receives and how well her needs are met.
Child:adult ratio
The number of children per adult in a childcare arrangement is called the child:adult ratio (or the child:staff ratio). A childminder who takes care of three children, for example, would have a child:adult ratio of 3:1; a day nursery with 16 children in a group and four staff members would have a child:staff ratio of 16:4, or 4:1. This ratio is important because it has a direct impact on how much individual attention each child receives. Under the Children Act 1989 (which came into force in 1991 to protect children and ensure good standards), minimum ratios have been laid down: childminders can only care for a maximum of six children under the age of 8 years, only one of whom can be under 1 year. However childminders can apply to look after two children under 1 year in the situation of twins. A total of only three children under 5 years is allowed. Childminders can also look after three children over 5 years but under 8 years providing she stays in her registration terms. Nurseries need one carer for every three children under the age of 2 years, one staff member to every four children aged 2 to 3 years, and one adult to eight children of 3 to 5 years. Nannies, mothers helps and au pairs are not subject to these regulations. Remember, these guidelines are minimums: you might want to choose a carer or nursery where there are even fewer children per adult. For instance, a childminder might well look after just your child or yours and one other or a day nursery might employ more staff members than the legal minimum.

Group size
Generally, children do better in small groups, whatever the child:adult ratio. Experts recommend that no more than eight infants should be grouped together and no more than 10 toddlers. For 2-year-olds they recommend no more than 12; for 3 to 5-year-olds, groups of 12 to 18. They agree that the quality of care goes up as the group gets smaller; quality begins to deteriorate when pre-school groups have 20 children or more.

Qualifications of the people who give the care

There are two main elements to look for in people who care for children. One is basic personality: they are people who like children and are naturally sympathetic to their needs warm and tolerant but firm at the appropriate moments. The other is training, through which they have learnt the necessary skills to look after children of various ages. It is easier to evaluate training than it is personality. Most of us rely on instinct when it comes to assessing personality you should respect your own immediate response to someone who will be looking after your children, particularly if you feel doubtful. More accurate and measurable information can be gained by watching and talking to the people involved. Is the carer patient, pleasant, interested in and relaxed with children? Watch out for impatience, more interest in talking to adults, patronising or irritable responses to children. How are children treated when their behaviour is inappropriate or disruptive to others? Do the children appear to be trusting and happy around the carer, or do they seem nervous or listless? Does the carer seem to enjoy playing with and talking to the children. Does she have the energy to do so? These qualities are usually in-built, though they can come from a background as a parent, from training, from practice, or from a combination of the three. You can ask carers for details of any training they have received and what it involved. Usually this will include child development, early childhood education and basic health and safety skills. The training might involve course work, combined with practical, supervised work directly with children.

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In day nurseries or larger programmes, such as out-of-school schemes, the co-ordinator or manager plays an essential role. In these larger organisations there can be a turnover of staff involved in the day-to-day care of the children and this may be important to know. It is the co-ordinator who sets the tone and you may want to reassure yourself that this person is approachable, understanding and experienced, has knowledge of children and has skills in management. It is the co-ordinator who can answer your questions and respond to your comments. A co-ordinator should be open, friendly and interested, and should have a strong, positive relationship with the staff.

Educational environment
Some parents are keen for childcare that can give their children a head start in learning, as well as provide general care. There are many different ideas and philosophies about learning and childcare. Most are based on a belief that children learn by doing and that there are appropriate activities at different ages which help children to learn. While some parents become committed to a particular type of educational programme, such as Montessori or open classrooms, it has not yet been proved that any one is more effective than the others. It has been found, however, that child centred programmes with clear goals and goal-oriented staff training, have a positive effect on children. Research also shows that play is essential to learning and growth. Recent findings have shown that when children are given the chance to initiate and choose some of their own activities they are more likely to learn than when adults make all the decisions. No matter what type of care youre considering, you will want to bear these research findings in mind. The response to your childs ideas, the activities that are planned to help your child grow and learn, and how your child will be able to choose those activities, will have an effect on the quality of care. Some of the elements that have been found to indicate quality in this area are:
I Safe challenges. Although children must be protected from dangerous situations they cant control, they need

opportunities to test new skills and explore.

I Variety in activities. Children benefit from a range of activities, from group play to individual play, from

games to music, from quiet activities to noisy ones.

I Props for dramatic play. Props and toys that encourage children to act out their fantasies through make-

believe are important to their development and learning and neednt be expensive (ordinary household items and cast-off clothes, for instance).

The parents role

Research has shown that quality care depends on parents and carers working closely together. Carers do a better job when parents trust and respect them and the quality of care is generally higher when parents and carers share information about the children. There are several different ways this can happen, including:
I Parents and carers talking daily: asking each other for ideas and trying to understand how the child

behaves with the other person.

I Parents feeling welcome to drop in while the child is in care. I Carers inviting parents to share in activities. I In a nursery or out-of-school scheme, parents having a say in key decisions, by

joining the committee or through some other consultancy structure.

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Discipline
Children are most secure and comfortable when they understand boundaries and when they are given rules that are fair, reasonable, clear and age appropriate. The best carers are patient and skilled in helping children learn self-control and self-discipline in a positive way which reassures the child. Rules should be well explained and predictably enforced. A child needs to understand the rules and not be confused about what is or isnt allowed. In its guidelines, the Children Act says There should be agreed policy on behaviour and punishments, appropriate to the age and stage of the childs development. Research indicates that any form of humiliating or harsh discipline undermines the development of self-control, inhibits learning, and weakens a childs self-image. This is where personality matters more than training. A relaxed, even-tempered, confident carer is less likely to behave inappropriately than an impatient person.

The physical space

Since children need a variety of atmospheres throughout the day quiet and relaxing moments; boisterous and active times and because they learn by doing, their daily surroundings are important. These factors have been found to be associated with quality care for young children:
I Organisation. The physical space and the materials in it should be organised so that children know where things can be found and can

reach what they need.

I Privacy. Children need small places where they can be away from the group sometimes, where they can have a quiet time by

themselves.
I Softness. All children, young ones in particular, need a variety, of soft toys, soft materials, and welcoming adult laps to clamber onto. I Design of space. The layout of space affects childrens behaviour. Large undivided spaces can lead to loud and aggressive behaviour.

Space divided into areas where two to six children can work or play together results in co-operative, helping behaviour. A safe, outdoor play area is also important.

Continuity of care
Children are more secure and do better when they get to know and trust their carers over a period of time. Ideally, your child should have the same carer for as long as possible. Younger children, in particular, may feel abandoned when a carer leaves. Your child will be happiest if childcare is stable and familiar. This means you should make every effort to choose carers who commit to the job, and to avoid any nurseries or other schemes that have a reputation for unusually high staff turnover. It also means having a sense of proportion about problems that might arise with your carer attempting to sort these out (so long as they arent major) is better than immediately looking for alternative care. Your LifeWorks consultant can help you decide how important the problem is, and the best way to tackle it with your carer.

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Its important to understand how childcare is regulated in your area and to see how your own standards compare with your areas requirements.
Regulation: what it does and does not guarantee
Since 1991 the Children Act has required local authorities to register all carers of children under 8, except for those employed in your own home such as nannies. This means that your local authority will have a complete list of care options in your neighbourhood (although they may not know which ones have vacancies available at the moment). These registered individuals and organisations are then subject to regulations, such as the child:adult ratios mentioned earlier; hygienic facilities; safety requirements; maintenance of premises; maintenance of records on staff and children and so on. The Children Act lays down minimum standards but individual local authorities might set higher requirements for their catchment areas. As well as the matters required by law, the Children Act also recommends guidelines of 'good practice policies checklists by which the quality of care may be assessed, even though they cannot be enforced. Ofsted must publish a report on their local childcare provision at least every three years, including a map showing the locations.

Registration
It is against the law for anyone but a relative or a person employed in the parents own home, to look after children under 8 for more than two hours per day on a regular basis for payment, unless they are registered with the local authority. Registration means that the home or organisation meets the legal basic requirements but not necessarily all of yours. In general, registration is only a safety net it is not a guarantee of childcare quality. The registration process involves running Criminal Record Bureau checks on the childminder and other members of the household over the age of 16 years who will be at home when the child is there.
I Never assume that registration alone means high standards. It ensures the minimum to protect against harm. This handbook and

the conversations you have with a LifeWorks consultant will give you the information and ideas you need to decide whether the care you choose meets your quality requirements. I Never assume that registration means a recent inspection. If in doubt about someones registration, ask to see their certificate.
I Always observe closely and judge for yourself.

Violations and poor quality care

Occasionally, you may hear horror stories about children being abused or maltreated by their carers. Fortunately, such situations are rare. Be wary of a day nursery or childminder, for instance, who is reluctant to let you drop in unannounced, discourages or prevents parents from talking with one another, or is unwilling to discuss any concern you have about your child or the daily schedule. Remember to ask for and check references before you make a final decision about a carer. You will be acting responsibly if you tell your LifeWorks consultant about childcare individuals or organisations you have rejected because they seemed to be unsafe, unhealthy, or otherwise unsatisfactory.

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CHILDMINDER QUESTIONS

Questions to ask the childminder

I How many children do you take care of?

What if we need a longer discussion?

What are their ages? How many come full-time? How many come part-time?
I What would a typical day be like for my child? I What are your fees and what do they include? (Ask to see

(Find out about rest times, meals, activities, outside play time, television, and trips to parks, shops and playgrounds.)

contract. Find out whether there are extra charges for nappies, food, or trips. Do parents pay for care when a child is sick or on holiday?)

I Who else is in your home during the day?

Older children? Other relatives? Assistants or helpers?

I What hours are you open?

What if I am late because of traffic, or have to work overtime?

I What can you tell me about your previous experience?

Can parents drop in any time?

Do you have experience or training in childcare with children my childs age? in child safety? in first aid and artificial respiration? in child development?

I What happens when my child is ill? Can children come if they

have a cold? A fever? Diarrhoea? Will you let me know if other children are ill?

I Why did you become a childminder? I What days do you plan to be closed?

Do you have a back-up for those days, or for those times when you are ill?
I What are your rules about managing disruptive behaviour? I Do you belong to a local or national childminding

association?

I How do you handle a child who is sad about being away

I Can you give me the names of two or three parents to call

from home? A child who breaks a rule? A child who is upset?

for references?

I How will we talk about my child? Daily conversations or notes

at drop-off and pick-up times?

Copyright 1991, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2004 Ceridian Centrefile Limited

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Things to look for when you visit

Yes No Does the childminder pay individual attention to each child? Does she play and talk with the children? Does she let them sit in her lap and give them hugs when they need comfort? Does the place seem safe? Look for: smoke alarms on every floor two exits in case of fire outlets and wires protected from toddlers secured cupboards fenced garden or safe balcony safe local play areas toys and play equipment appropriate for your childs age strict practice of washing hands after nappy-changing and before preparing food no knives etc. where children could get at them Is there enough room inside for the children to play comfortably? Does the outdoor space have enough room for the children to run and play? Is there a variety of toys and activities your child would enjoy? Does the place seem right for your child? Will your child be comfortable and happy there? Are you comfortable with the other children? Will this be a good group for your child? Are you comfortable with the childminder? Would you trust her to take care of your child? Do the rules seem reasonable and clear? Do you agree with how she disciplines the children? Are you happy with the types of activities she plans? Will she listen to and understand your concerns? Do her references check out? Are the toys right for your childs age? Are toys accessible so children can make their own choices? Will your child have a chance to make things, colour, build with bricks, dress up, listen to stories, dig in sand, play with water or make music?

Questions to ask yourself

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Day nurseries
In many parts of the country, places for day nurseries are at a premium, especially for under twos. It is worthwhile making preliminary enquiries as early as possible into your pregnancy and well in advance of the birth of your baby. Many nurseries operate a waiting list and take names as much as a year in advance. It is common for day nurseries to take children from age two and over, although some offer places for babies from either three or six months. Many day nurseries will not offer part daycare for babies and may also specify the minimum number of sessions they feel are necessary for a baby to settle into the nursery. Call the manager of any nursery you are considering and make an appointment to visit, so that someone will be available to answer your questions. You should ask for a brochure or parent handbook before your visit so that you can see what the nursery offers. Read over the following Questions sheet before you visit a nursery so you can think about what is particularly important to you and your child. Add a few notes on anything else you want to check. Make a copy of the Questions for each centre youll be visiting and take a copy with you when you visit. You can make brief notes and add more details when you arrive home, while your impressions are still fresh in your mind.

Talking with the manager and staff

During your visit try to talk to both the manager and some members of staff to get a balanced view of the place and the people. Find out as much as you can about the background and training of the staff. A well run childcare setting should have suitably trained staff. Current childcare qualifications include the Cache Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education (previously known as NNEB), NVQ in Childcare and Education Level 2 and 3, and the BTEC Diploma in Childcare and Education. Obviously some untrained staff will always be part of any childcare setting but at least half of the staff should be professionally trained with opportunities for ongoing development. The manager and deputies should hold a relevant qualification in childcare or early years education, health visiting or childrens nursing. On your visit youll begin to get a feel for the place and for the staff. Observe the manager and the staff while you are there. Do they work well together? Do they seem genuinely to like children? Do they set firm, but positive limits? Above all, how happy do the children in their care seem? Friendly, welcoming people who are happy to answer your questions show an open attitude. Ask about staff turnover how long the average staff member stays and what efforts are made to keep staff, including wages, benefits, and work conditions. It is better for your child to have continuity of carers as well as care, so the longer the better. Some centres assign each child a primary carer often known as a key worker, so that your child can develop a special relationship with one particular adult. Your visit will also tell you what you need to know about the facilities and the physical nature of the provision. Ideally there should be plenty of room inside and out for play, (Ofsted stipulates a minimum amount of space). If the provision does not have its own grounds, you will need to ask where the children are taken when the weather is fine and look how far away it is. You should look at the lavatory facilities and the kitchen, which also gives you an opportunity to ask about what food is served to the children. Day nurseries are checked for safety by the local authorities, but you will probably like to see for yourself that everything is in order.

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All childcare establishments must provide an environment which promotes the all-round development of a child. There is an Early Years Curriculum for three to five-year-olds which sets out goals relating to what most children can be expected to achieve by the end of the school reception year. These emphasise the importance of learning through play. In recognition of the importance of early years education, the government has funded free part-time education for children of four and over. In nurseries (or pre-schools) which follow the curriculum guidelines, childcare places can be subsidised. You would need to ask the nursery if they are registered with this scheme. It is hoped that this scheme will soon be extended to include all three-year-olds across the country. As part of the process of registration, Ofsted inspects these nurseries and the resulting Ofsted reports are available publicly just contact your LifeWorks consultant.

Pre-schools
Pre-schools (formerly known as playgroups) were developed to offer a valuable opportunity for children between the ages of 21/2 to 5 years to gain independence, have some time to play with other children and begin their early education in a group setting. Rather than being seen as a means of providing childcare for working mothers, they aim to promote the physical, emotional, intellectual and social development of children before they start school. Pre-schools (they may also call themselves nurseries or kindergartens) usually operate on a three terms-per-year basis and open for three or more morning or afternoon sessions per week. Each session is likely to be around 21/2 hours. Their premises are usually church halls or community centres and so are not dedicated to childrens use all day. Some pre-schools run as a business and others may be run by a committee (usually including parents) on a non-profit basis. All groups will charge fees but the size of the fee is no indicator of the quality of care offered.

Extended hours pre-schools

Some pre-schools are registered to offer extended hours equivalent to a school length day of 9am to 3pm (usually term time only). These groups mainly cater for three to five-year-olds although many restrict all day attendance to children aged four years and over.

Registration and inspection of pre-schools

Pre-schools must be registered with Ofsted and meet the same requirements as day nurseries. They may also be eligible to claim government funding of part-time education for four-year-olds.

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D AY N U R S E R Y / OT H E R C H I L D C A R E C E N T R E Q U E S T I O N S

Questions to ask the manager and staff

I How many children are there at the centre? I What are your fees and what do they include?

How are they separated into groups? How many will be in my childs group? How many staff? How many children come full-time? How many come part-time? Is there a keyworker policy? How do you manage the settling in process when a child starts at the centre?

(Find out whether there are extra charges for nappies, food, or outings, whether parents pay for care when a child is ill or on holiday.)

I What hours are you open?

What if I am late because of traffic, or have to work overtime?

I What would a typical day be like for my child? (Find out

Can parents drop in any time?

about schedules, activities, meals, naps, outside play time, outings).

I Are there opportunities outside normal nursery hours for

Do children ever choose their own activities?

parents, staff and children to spend time informally?

I What can you tell me about your experience and training?

How long have you been at the centre?

I What days are you closed? Do you have a back-up for

emergency closures?
I What are the centres minimum qualifications for staff?

How long, on average, do staff members stay at the provision?

I What happens when my child is ill? Can children come if they

have a cold? A fever? Diarrhoea? Will you let me know if other children are ill? Do staff members have ongoing training?

Infant first aid and trained artificial respiration?

I How do you handle a child who is sad about being away

from home? A child who breaks a rule? A child who is upset? A child who is learning to use the toilet?

I Can you give me the names of two or three parents to call

for references?

I How will we talk about my child? (Ask about daily

conversations, notes at drop-off and pick-up times, regular parent/staff conferences, parent meetings, a parent group.)

Copyright 1991, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2004 Ceridian Centrefile Limited

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Things to look for when you visit

Yes No Do the carers pay individual attention to each child? Do they sit with them and give them hugs when they need comfort? Do the staff speak with the children at eye level? Do the discipline methods seem appropriate? Does the centre seem safe? Look for: Are you happy with the activities? adequate security smoke alarms and fire extinguishers a notice about fire procedure two exits in case of fire fenced playground toys and play equipment appropriate for your childs age strict practice of washing hands after nappychanging and before preparing food Is there enough room indoors and outdoors for children to play? Is there a variety of toys and activities your child would enjoy? Are the toys right for your childs age? Will your child have a chance to make things, colour, build with bricks, dress up, listen to stories, dig in sand, play with water or make music? Will the staff listen to and understand your concerns? Do the references check out? Are you comfortable with the other children? Will this be a good group for your child? Will your child be comfortable and happy at this centre? Has your child had a chance to visit? Do the children sound happy? Are the teachers voices loud enough to be heard, but not overpowering?

Questions to ask yourself

Are you comfortable with the centre and staff? Would you trust them to take care of your child? Do the rules seem reasonable and clear?

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After youve made your choice

Once you have decided on the best arrangement for your child, your job isnt over. Youll want to think about and formalise your relationship with the people who are caring for your child. Youll want to find some back-up care. You will also need to prepare yourself and your child for this new experience. The choices youve made about your childs care are very important. Its a good idea to continue to spend some time thinking and talking about your arrangement and working to make it successful.

You and your carer

Even when your child is in someone elses care while you work, remember that you will always be the most important person to your child. However, your childs relationship with a carer is important too, so you and your carer have to work together and continue to talk about your childs needs. Parents often feel so happy and grateful to have found someone good to care for their child that they dont express their own concerns for fear of offending the carer. Talk things over with your carer regularly, no matter what kind of care your child is in. Lack of communication can often lead to a buildup of tensions and affect how you feel about your childs care. Make sure your expectations are clearly understood. Discuss exactly what the job will require and what you expect of each other. Speaking frankly from the start of your relationship is important. Ask questions, share information often and be available to discuss your child. Remember too, to always give positive feedback people like to feel appreciated when they are doing a good job. Establishing clear agreements in advance can help prevent misunderstandings. No matter what kind of care youve selected, its a good idea to write down the details of your arrangement. If your carer already has an agreement or contract, make sure the things that are important to you are covered or add them if necessary. Both you and your carer should sign the agreement and agree a time to review terms and conditions in the future. Here are some ideas that you might want to include in agreements with the different kinds of carers.

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Your agreement with your childminder

Most childminders have their own contract, which you will have asked to see at the interview stage. You may want to satisfy yourself that all these points are included on the contract itself, or in an additional letter signed by you both: - Meals and snacks to be given - Specific indoor and outdoor activities to be encouraged - Toys, games, physical equipment and rooms available to your child - Equipment and furniture to be supplied (crib, high chair, playpen, and so forth) and by whom.
I Your responsibilities as a parent

- Times for arrival and pick up - Items to be brought from home (food, toys, change of nappies, change of clothes, toothbrush, infant furniture, and so on) - Instructions for giving medicines or special food - Telephone numbers: home, work, partners work, doctor, neighbour - List of names and phone numbers of people who may pick up your child from the childminder.
I Childminders policies

- Use of other adults to help out - Use of other carers for emergencies and holidays - Care for children when they are ill - Outings (need for permission or advance notice) - Advance written permission from you to obtain emergency treatment for your child, if necessary - How and when your child goes to school - Whether and where your child may play with friends after school and amount of supervision needed. What after-school activities your child may be involved in and how transport will be arranged. - Type and amount of insurance cover - How long the contract runs for (sometimes six months, so that the fees can be reviewed and possibly increased or to take into account changes in circumstances, such as your child starting school and needing fewer hours of care). - Frequency of reviews (bi-weekly? monthly? etc) to give each of you an opportunity to discuss the arrangement and any concerns.
I Terms of payment

- Amount to be paid - When payment is due and how (by cash or cheque) - Any other fees or expenses, such as fees for late pick-up or late payment, petrol or mileage fees for taking children to and from school, cost of nappies, - Special dietary items, outings - Payment for days when your child is not in care due to holiday (yours or carers), illness, or emergency - Payment for providing care at unusual hours or days - Amount of notice and pay needed to change or end the arrangement - Reductions for children from the same family.

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Preparing your child

Once youve chosen care for your child, youll want to prepare your child and yourself for this change in your lives. If you are leaving a baby in someone elses care for the first time, you can expect that the separation will be hard for you, as it might be for your child. A knowledgeable carer will give your baby extra attention and comfort and can also give you some help to get through this difficult time. It can be helpful to start using the carer before you strictly need to. You can leave your child for short periods to begin with, so that both of you become used to the separation, stepping up the amount of time apart until you are comfortable. This also gives you the opportunity to see how happy you are with the carers methods and iron out any problems at an early stage. Research suggests that the best childcare arrangements occur when the parent is comfortable with the decision to return to work. Children even infants pick up on a parents feelings, and your baby is more likely to be happy with an arrangement if you are. The right childcare arrangement is more important than deciding on the right age to begin childcare. No matter who provides it, your child will thrive with good care. If your child is old enough to understand, explain what will be happening. Go over the details of the routine and activities of the new care arrangement. Talk about the other children and the adults who will be with your child. This will build up your childs confidence. Here are a few ideas you can use:
I Visit the childminder or nursery beforehand with your child. Spend some time exploring

it and watching or playing with the other children. Arrange for a nanny to start a few weeks before you go back to work.
I Spend some time with your childs carer or teachers to allow your child to become more

familiar with them.

I Ask your carer for advice on how to introduce your child to the new routine gradually. If

you have some ideas that you know will also work, feel free to share them. Talk about how you can work together to make your child feel more comfortable.
I Try to be aware of your own feelings. Let your child know that you trust the arrangement

and that you share and understand his or her temporary sadness.
I When you leave, always say goodbye to your child. Never try to slip away unseen.

Children are more upset when you just disappear than when you explain you are going temporarily. Separation is normal and healthy, even though it can be painful for both children and parents. It will probably be most difficult for your child during the first days of being left, but some children go through bouts of minding about it later. Children in childcare learn to say goodbye every day. Most feel a little sadder about it on Mondays. On Fridays, they feel a little sad saying goodbye to childcare. At the same time they are learning the joys of greeting you when you come back, and of greeting their friends and carers too. Some children have a longer adjustment period than others. Remember that its important to work closely with your carer. You may also want to call LifeWorks to discuss the situation with a consultant. If youre changing your arrangement, allow your child plenty of time to say goodbye to the old place or person and take the time to introduce your child to the new care the place, the people and the routine.

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Handling childcare problems

The chances are you will find an arrangement that will provide a good experience for your child. However, there is always the remote possibility that you may find something wrong. If you start having problems with your childcare, youll want to be prepared to take appropriate action. Something wrong could mean a number of things. It could simply be a disagreement you cant resolve. It could be a violation of a registration requirement. It could be negligence affecting childrens health and safety. It could be abuse or exploitation of children.

Disagreements
Plan regular review times when you and your carer can exchange both good news and any concerns. In the case of a disagreement, let your carer know how important the issue is to you as soon as possible to avoid the problem escalating. Remember that young children are most comfortable with familiar settings and people they already know and trust. If you have a carer you are broadly happy with its usually well worth taking the time and effort to straighten out small disagreements. Your LifeWorks consultant can help you think through an approach. If no law or regulation is violated, often there will be no legal action you can take. If the conflict becomes overwhelming and cannot be resolved, you will have to seek another carer.

Registration violations
If you find that your carer isnt complying with a registration requirement, mention it and follow through to be sure its corrected. It may not be serious enough to consider transferring your child to another place. A serious violation, such as the failure to replace absent staff members with suitable substitutes at a nursery, might also be something you could discuss with the nursery manager. If you discover persistent and serious violations, begin looking for another arrangement. As a responsible person concerned about other children as well as your own, report these violations to Ofsted or discuss your concerns with a LifeWorks consultant who may be able to advise you.

Negligence
If you feel that a childminder or nursery is careless about the safety and health of children, its usually best to report it to Ofsted who will act on the complaint and advise you what to do.

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Child abuse
You are not likely to encounter child abuse, but dont rule out the possibility, even if it is remote. If your child appears reluctant to go to childcare, there are many possible reasons. Explore these with the carer. None the less take what your child tells you seriously and find out as soon as you can whether other children are expressing similar feelings. Parents who compare notes about their childrens feelings, remarks, and unexplained injuries may be able to discover abuse and act on their knowledge. If you do encounter abuse, report it to Ofsted. If you are unsure about how to act, a LifeWorks consultant may be able to help you think through your options.

Back-up care
Once youve found care for your child, you still need to remember that even the best childcare arrangement doesnt run perfectly! At some point your child or your carer may get ill. School may close for teacher training or, occasionally, severe weather. Or you may need to work late or take a business trip. Whatever the reason, from time to time youll need to find back-up care. The best time to plan for that care is right now.
I You can start by thinking about your familys regular schedule. Who has the most flexible

hours? Is there someone in the family you can ask to help at short notice?
I Understand your options at work. Make sure you understand your employers

compassionate, sick and holiday leave policies, so youll know how much flexibility you have when an emergency does come up.
I Understand the relevant legislation. Legislation allows all employees to take a reasonable

period of time off work to deal with an emergency involving a dependant. Although there is no limit set on what is a reasonable time it is expected that this time will be used to find alternative care arrangements.
I Think about your childs needs. Some children approach any new situation with enthusiasm; others may be upset or fearful.

Most children are happiest with both a familiar adult and a familiar setting if you cant provide both, which will be more important to your child?
I Think about the times when you know youll need back-up care. Ask your carer about any scheduled holidays. If your

child is at school, get the school timetable and check the public, half-term, religious and other holidays, as well as teacher-training days.
I Remember to expect the unexpected. No matter how carefully you plan, therell always be situations that

spring up with little or no notice.

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I Its best to line up several different back-up options.

- Your regular carer may be able to suggest or help you find substitute care. - Family members, friends, and other parents may be willing to offer, share, or trade care. Talk to these people now and ask if you might be able to count on them for some back-up care. - Childminders and other provisions in your area may offer back-up childcare or drop-in care to a few extra children as an extension of their regular services. - If you have a nanny you might be able to make reciprocal arrangements with other parents who also use nannies. - Nanny or nursing agencies can sometimes send a carer to your home on very short notice, although this can be very expensive and the carer is likely to be a stranger. - Out-of-school schemes often extend their hours to include public holidays and school holidays. Remember that some schemes require you to put your name down if you think you might have to use them in the future and may also require a deposit. Be sure to ask before you need to use them. Try to visit any centres, childminders, or other substitute carers youre considering. You and your child will be more at ease when you finally need back-up care if you have a chance to get to know the people and places ahead of time.

When your child is ill

Children get ill from time to time throughout the year. Pre-school children at home catch between six and eight respiratory illnesses (coughs and colds) each year, as well as one or two digestive illnesses (such as diarrhoea or an upset stomach). Children in group care usually have about the same number of respiratory illnesses, but more infectious or digestive illnesses. The number of digestive illnesses is dramatically reduced where there are strict hand-washing practices. For a working parent, even minor illnesses cause difficulties. Children often get ill at unexpected and inconvenient times and it can be hard to make a quick decision before work about how serious an illness really is. Unless you have found a centre or carer who can take mildly ill children, your childs illness can mean a day or several days at home. Remember to ask whoever is taking care of your child about the policies for mildly ill children. Some childminders and nurseries may include sick children but many do not. Most have certain guidelines and policies that might specify, for example, how high a temperature your child has to have before they will ring you and ask that you come and take your child home. Since illness is unpredictable, you cant reserve care in advance. Cover yourself with as many prearranged plans as you can make. Call a LifeWorks consultant to discuss the care options that may be available to you.

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In-home childcare
An alternative to childcare offered by external providers is to have someone come to your home to take care of your child/children. If you have any questions about whether in-home childcare is the best choice for you, this section aims to provide an overview of the entire process of locating, selecting, and working with a carer. If you have further questions or need more information about any of the material in this guide, call LifeWorks and ask to speak to a consultant. Although in-home childcare has many advantages, it is not appropriate for all families and situations. The following check list will help you decide whether in-home care is right for you and your family.

IN-HOME CARE CHECKLIST

Yes No My child would benefit from one-to-one care in my home, as opposed to going to a day nursery or a childminder. I understand and am willing to take on the responsibilities of being an employer. I am willing to devote time and effort to setting up and maintaining a relationship with my carer. I feel comfortable about having someone look after my child without the supervision of other adults. I realise that my carer or nanny will be exposed to intimate details about my home and family. The flexibility in-home care provides in terms of hours and scheduling is important for my family. My school-age children have lessons and activities in the afternoons and I need someone to help with transport.

Having someone commute to your home:

I can afford 120-250 per week plus income tax and National Insurance contributions (NlCs) for full-time childcare. Its realistic to expect I can find someone who can commute to my home (consider what time you need to leave in the morning, how long your working day is, and where your home is).

Having someone live in your home:

I can afford 110-210 plus tax and National Insurance contributions per week for full-time childcare. I have an extra bedroom for the carer. I feel comfortable sharing my home and my private time with a carer. I feel comfortable sharing the following, or can make arrangements for my carer to have her own: kitchen/meals telephone television car bathroom

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Common Terms
In this section the words in-home carer or carer are used to describe any person who cares for children in your home. Often nanny is used loosely as a generic for someone who cares for children in her employers home. As you search for in-home childcare, youll probably hear a variety of other terms as well. Many are used interchangeably and often inaccurately one familys nanny is another familys mothers help. Its useful to understand the distinctions, especially if you decide to use an employment agency. (Please note: salaries mentioned below do not include other potential costs like extra car insurance. For more information on total costs, see page 46.)

Nanny as generic
The word nanny is usually used as a generic term to describe a British girl who cares for her employers children in the childrens home. The term is used when the girl is trained but inexperienced. There is a distinct difference between a nanny and a mothers help. The former is a graduate of the well known NNEB 2-year course or has some other childcare qualification like a BTEC which enables her to call herself a nursery nurse or nanny. In-home childcarer is a useful umbrella term originating in the US used to describe anyone who looks after children at their home; it includes a nanny, a British or foreign mothers help, an au pair (who is by definition foreign), a housekeeper and a part-time carer like a college student.

A nanny and her training

A nanny is employed by the family, either living-in or living-out, to undertake all tasks associated with the care of children. The nanny may be expected to plan activities which help the childrens learning and development. Duties are generally restricted to childcare and related domestic tasks; nannies dont regard housework (apart from the childrens bedrooms and playroom) or the parents laundry as parts of their job. A nanny with little experience has had some form of formal nursery nurse training. She works 50-60 hours per week. Every summer over 10,000 nursery nurses graduate after 2 years study from further education colleges with a CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Childcare and Education (DCE) formerly known as the Diploma in Nursery Nursing (NNEB)*. The Diploma course is modular and continually assessed. It covers all aspects of baby and child development, health, safety, nutrition, and learning through play, up to and including the age of 7. It is the oldest and best known course in the country, dating back to 1946. The equivalent of 2 weeks per month is spent in practical placements, including helping families with babies under a year and working at day nurseries, schools and hospitals. (* The Nursery Nursing Examination Board (NNEB) used to award the Diploma and NNEB is so well known among employers that CACHE still retains the initials to describe its Diploma.) About half the NNEB nursery nurses go to work in local authority and private day nurseries, nursery schools and hospitals, while the rest become nannies working with families.

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One other course in childcare is: the relatively new (1989) BTEC National Diploma in Childhood Studies (Nursery Nursing). This covers similar topics to the NNEB but does not include as much practical experience. The National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) in Childcare and Education are also nationally recognised awards with different levels of competence for people who have had experience but no formal qualification. For example, a mothers help or a childminder who has had lots of experience in childcare could apply to be assessed at NVQ Level 3. She would demonstrate her knowledge of childcare through her job and would not have to study or pass tests. There are a handful of fee-paying private colleges who train nursery nurses to take the CACHE NNEB Diploma, the most famous of which is Norland College. There is also the London Montessori Centre, which teaches the CACHE NNEB course as well as the Montessori Childcare and Teaching Diploma and there are also two short, non-residential, fee-paying nanny courses in London. CACHE and BTEC also have a 1-year Certificate course in childcare which is equivalent to an NVQ Level 2 in Childcare and Education. In addition to childcarers who have completed one of the various courses, there are many individuals who rely on past experience as mothers, grandmothers, teachers, playgroup leaders, and nurses to qualify them as experienced childcarers. Many of them may also have taken the trouble to acquire an NVQ. Where both parents work and the childcarer will be left in sole charge from 8 to 10 hours a day, it is sensible to search for a qualified and preferably experienced nanny or carer. Girls with an NNEB or BTEC Diploma and nannying experience do get the top notch jobs which offer a high standard of living and plenty of perks (like separate accommodation and exclusive use of a car). They are paid substantially more than someone less qualified, though a very experienced nanny who has no training but excellent references can command a similar salary. The fact that a nanny has completed a 2-year course learning the theory and practice of overseeing the important, formative years of a child says something about her commitment and maturity. In these 2 years a bright, dedicated girl will have learnt a good deal about child development, health, safety, nutrition, discipline and education through play. She will also know how to devise stimulating and enjoyable activities each day for small children and be just what most working parents would like to employ. Training helps give parents confidence that the young woman (initially a stranger though she may become a friend for life) who is to look after their child or children on her own, five long days a week, knows what she is doing and will be able to handle a crisis should it occur. Having said that, Mary Poppins wasnt trained and the nanny who is experienced but has no qualifications can be just as good and demand a similar salary as her NNEB sister. The training/experience debate goes on but most agree that some nannies are naturals and have sufficient common sense and love of young children to make training mere icing on the cake. Employers perennial comments about fresh-out-of-college NNEBs is that the emphasis of their course has been on nursery nursing in the state and private sectors, so they dont know enough about the special and very different demands of living with a family. Depending on professional and personal backgrounds, the salary of a live-in nanny can vary widely, usually starting at around 170-250 per week net (i.e. before tax and National Insurance contributions have been paid) for an inexperienced girl. Experienced nannies typically earn 250-280 net a week, but many receive as much as 280-320 net.

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Sharing a nanny
One way to cut down on the expense of hiring an in-home carer is to hire someone jointly with another family. Sometimes called nanny sharing, this arrangement can greatly reduce costs. Sharing a carer can be complicated, however. Instead of simply working things out between your family and the carer you have to consider the needs, schedule, and style of a second family. It becomes even more important for everyone involved to know whats expected of them and what the boundaries are. Clear and frequent communication is essential.

Advantages of sharing a carer

I More cost effective I Still offers many of the advantages of in-home childcare I Allows you to afford a more qualified candidate than you might be able to on your own.

Disadvantages of sharing a carer

I She may not always be in your home I Schedules might differ between the families I It can be difficult finding a family whose childrearing ideas and images of a perfect carer match your own.

On the whole, sharing a nanny can work well when both children are months rather than years old and are the same age. However, the arrangement tends not to last very long because of two things: one or other of the families has another child and this can complicate the arrangement; and once the children reach the age when they go to playgroup or a nursery, both sets of parents tend to review their childcare needs often it is simpler and sometimes cheaper to go their separate ways.

How to find another family

If you dont know another family who might want to share childcare, you can use many of the same ideas and suggestions in this guide for recruiting a carer to help find that family. You might also want to:
I check in doctors surgeries I ask at childbirth classes and the nearest National Childbirth Trust (NCT) group I enquire at community centres I ask at local playgroups/nurseries I enquire/put a notice in local shops selling childrens clothing and/or toys

and in local food shops

I ask your friends I chat to mums and childcarers at your local park.

Here are some questions to ask yourself and the other family to help all of you decide if sharing a nanny will work. Ages of the children. Are you looking for playmates who are the same age as your children? Would you consider sharing a carer with another family whose children are different ages than yours? Schedules and fees. What if the other familys schedule is different from yours? How will you divide the hours and split the salary (for example, what if you need care for only 20 hours and the other family needs care for 40 hours)? Does one family pay more since the other family is providing the house and, probably, the food? Salary, rises, and bonuses. What can each family afford? Timing for performance reviews and increased pay should also be discussed before you hire a joint nanny. How will you offer sick leave and holidays? Geographic area and location. Although you might want care in your home, would you be willing to have it in another familys home? Would you be willing to switch on and off (for example, 1 month at your home and 1 month at the other familys)? If you are considering shared care away from your home, you may be able to broaden your search to include the area near your work.

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Number of children looked after. How many children would you like a shared nanny to care for? Will salaries and fees be divided differently between the families, depending on who has more children? Incidentally, it is stated that a nanny looking after more than two families children must be registered with Ofsted in the same way as a childminder. Communication. Shared care requires putting a lot of effort into communication. Are you willing to take the time to make sure this works? If not, you may risk losing the nanny and your friendship with the other family. Group meetings. When will you set aside time to talk about the situation and the nannys performance? Will everyone meet at the same time? Or will each family have a separate meeting with her? What about the families meeting without her? Contact person. Who will the nanny go to with problems? It is generally advisable for her to speak with one person, instead of several. This also allows both families to discuss the issue and agree on one response. The nannys qualities. What kind of nanny do you want? Are you looking for someone with a background similar to yours? Or someone who has some diversity to offer? Does the other family share your preferences? Will you be flexible and bend to meet another familys requirements? Job responsibilities. What does each family expect from the nanny? What tasks need to be done? How does the other family feel about defining duties? One good way to decide on job responsibilities is to have one adult from each family spend a day caring for the combined group of children. Having a realistic picture of the nannys day will help both families set reasonable expectations for the job. The check list on page 42 can be a starting point for discussing what responsibilities should be part of the job and how they might be divided between households. Sick care. Will one parent stay home from work if the carer is ill? If one child is sick and not there, will the family still need to pay their share for that day? Where does the nanny go if one child is sick (to the sick childs home or the well childs)? Liability. What if someone gets hurt? How would you handle damage in the home (for example, crayons on the wall, broken vases) especially when it could be difficult to determine who actually was responsible for the damage? What areas of the home are off limits? Environment. Visit each others homes before deciding on a nanny share. This will help you and the other family set limits and boundaries in both homes. Meals and activities. How will the costs be divided? What will the lunch schedule be like? Will the child who does not live there bring his lunch, or pay for it? Transport issues. Will the nanny be expected to transport the children? If so, whose car will she use? Does the other family feel comfortable with this? Will the nanny need to use her own car? Who will reimburse her? Childrearing issues. You and the other family will want to discuss what is acceptable behaviour at both homes. This might include discussions about toilet training, age appropriate activities (such as how much TV, if any), meals (do the children clean their plates?), and disciplinary issues (rude behaviour, kicking, etc.). Equipment. Be sure to discuss the equipment needed in the homes (cots, high chair, etc.). This can be especially important when a nanny is caring for two infants (for instance, you and the other family may want to invest in a double buggy). If youd like help working out a job description or writing an advert, or if you need information on agencies in your area that do nanny shares, call LifeWorks and ask to speak to a consultant.

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A British mothers help

A mothers or, more fairly, a parents helper as they call them in the US, lives in or out of the familys home and provides full-time childcare and domestic help where one parent is home some of the time. A mothers help assists parents in childcare without generally being left in charge of the children for long periods and, unlike the nanny, does general housework.

A foreign mothers help

A mothers or parents help can also be a foreigner from one of the European Union countries. Some EU citizens choose to au pair in the UK, although they are in fact free to take any job. Some of them elect to become mothers helps and work full time for a family, receiving a wage commensurate with their British counterparts. Many employers talk about their childrens au pair who works 50-60 hours a week: this is about double what an au pair is allowed to do. What these employers really have is a foreign mothers help, who might be Spanish, French, German, or from one of the other EU member states. If she is not from the EU and has no work permit, then she is an illegal.

Au pairs
Au pairs are an ideal childcare option for parents with school age children or one parent working parttime or from home. They can also be considered by parents with school age children, who are looking for short-term care over the summer holidays. For parents in such circumstances who have a spare room, they offer an excellent value for money option. Parents may also decide on an au pair because they like the idea of introducing their family to someone who has different customs and speaks a different language. An au pair would not be an appropriate choice for working parents with pre-school children as au pairs are unlikely to have any childcare training, their English may be limited and they should not be given sole charge or sole responsibility for children during a parents normal working day.

What is an au pair?
An au pair is a boy or girl aged between 17-27 years of age who is a national of one of the following countries: Andorra, Bosnia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Faroe Islands, Greenland, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Malta, Monaco, San Marino, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Switzerland, Turkey The au pair arrangement offers a good opportunity for applicants from EC and non-EC countries to learn the English language, whilst living as part of an English speaking family. Au pairs come to England primarily to learn the language but also to gain an insight into our culture and way of life. They will live with an English family for anywhere between 3 months up to 18 months. The maximum period an au pair can stay in the United Kingdom is 2 years. The Home Office guidelines state that she or he must be unmarried, have no dependants, and have no intention of staying once she or he has worked the allotted time of 2 years.

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Categories of au pairs
In most cases au pairs will be available in two categories: 1. Standard au pair These should work no more than 5 hours per day and not more than 5 days per week and have at least 2 days completely free (they must therefore work no more than 25 hours per week). Standard au pairs should be paid around 45-50 per week, 5080 being highest in London. In addition two evenings baby-sitting per week would be reasonable. The au pair should be paid on the same day each week. 2. Au pair plus Can expect to work up to 35 hours per week and should be paid between 55-65 per week. They should receive 11/2 or 2 days free each week and can also do extra babysitting which is paid extra. If a family live more than 5 miles from a suitable language school and social facilities, then a petrol allowance or contribution to bus fares would also be expected. There appear to be two types of au pair. The first are generally in full-time education at college or university and only available during the holidays. Their desire to come to England can be to broaden their experiences thereby supporting their studies. These individuals make good summer au pairs and are available between June and September. The second group are looking to be in England for up to 12 or 18 months, depending on their visa restrictions. They will be seeking a more long-term relationship with the family as they may have finished their studies and will be looking to improve their English language and experience another culture before they take up a career in their own country.

Is there a best time to look for an au pair?

Au pairs are usually looking to start their placement with a family in September/October or June (for summer holiday bookings). In general, non-European au pairs come prepared to stay for a full year but European au pairs prefer to stay for 6 months, completing a course in English over the autumn and spring terms. Summer holiday placements are popular and you should not have difficulty finding someone but whatever time of year, be sure to start your search in good time. At other times of the year, especially around Easter, it may be more difficult to find an au pair but some who are already in the country on a short stay arrangement may want to extend their visit with a new family.

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What qualities might you be looking for in an au pair?

I Someone with previous experience of looking after school age children. It is unlikely that au pairs

will have any formal childcare training. However, they may have worked as an au pair with another family or had experience of looking after their own brothers or sisters.
I Someone with a basic understanding of English. The comprehension and fluency of individual candidates will

vary considerably. It is therefore important to recognise and plan for this when deciding the responsibility you will give your au pair, how you will check they understand what you are asking of them and how quickly after they arrive you feel confident to leave them alone with your children. I A non-smoker. Is this an important requirement for you?
I Someone who likes animals? If you have a dog or cat you may need to

consider this.
I Someone who can drive? Au pairs who can drive are like gold dust. Those who can drive may

not have much driving experience. Please refer to the driving paragraph overleaf.

What qualities might an au pair be looking for in her host family?

I A nice room of her own. The size of her room and facilities on offer e.g. en-suite bathroom and own TV

are likely to be important if an au pair has a choice of families.

I A convenient location with good public transport and other au pairs locally. I Potential social life within easy reach of your home. I A college offering an English as a Foreign Language course that is close by on a public transport route. I A family with hobbies and interests similar to their own. I A family that have plans to include them in activities that broaden their experience of British life and culture.

How do I find an au pair?

There are several hundred au pair and nanny agencies all over the country with the greatest concentration in the South East. Some of these agencies will be members of FRES (Federation of Recruitment and Employment Services). As employment agencies no longer require a license to trade, you might find it reassuring to use an agency that is a member of a trade association. However, there are many reputable agencies with longstanding experience of placing au pairs that are not FRES members. It may also be possible to find an au pair by advertising in The Lady, a national weekly magazine.

Questions you might want to ask when selecting an au pair agency?

I How long have you been working as an au pair agency? I Are you a member of FRES? I What screening procedures (if any) do you apply when registering au pairs with your agency? Many agencies have

arrangements with European agencies that receive a fee from girls and boys wishing to be placed with families in the UK. Some European agencies are able to see candidates face-to-face but for the majority it is a case of completing a questionnaire, providing two references and a doctors certificate that are then passed on to the UK agency.
I Do you charge a) registration fee? b) Placement fee? If so how much? Registration fees may be in

the region of 15-25 and placement fees vary between 100-200 depending on length of stay. I Terms and conditions of agency contract?

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Family obligations to the au pair

The au pair should be treated as part of the host family and made to feel welcome and able to share in the social life of the family. They must be given free time to study or to pursue other interests and must be provided with their own private bedroom. Host families must help their au pair to find a good local college where English is taught as a foreign language as one of the main reasons au pairs come to the UK is to learn English with the aim of taking an exam. A suggested place to start looking for a suitable class is at the website of the Association of Recognised English Language Services, [Link]. Class fees are normally payable at the beginning of each term and some families like to make a contribution towards the cost.

Duties
This includes light housework, helping with the children and babysitting twice a week. It is recommended that you provide a clear list of duties. You should also explain any household rules i.e. what time you expect them home after their time off, if they can use the telephone, help themselves to food and other family facilities. Also you should clarify if they can have friends to visit. Au pairs are not trained nannies and should not be expected to have sole charge of young babies. If you have pets in the house, please ensure the au pair understands how to cater for their needs, i.e. letting them out into the garden during the day and not leaving the front door open. It is advisable that the au pair has a list of emergency contact numbers, which should include a doctor and a reliable neighbour. The procedure for handling an emergency should be explained in detail as it should not be assumed that the au pair will instinctively know how to handle an emergency. Please note: You should not assume that the au pair has been brought up to accept the same values as your family and be aware that their understanding of how a child should be treated could be quite different from yours. Do make a point of explaining what the house rules are with regards to the childrens behaviour. Treat your au pair with respect and kindness, making them feel part of the family and you will have a very successful and happy association. Remember they are away from their family and may become homesick, therefore encourage them to accompany you on family outings, explaining, of course, there is no cost to them.

Holidays
Au pairs like the opportunity to return home for a week around Christmas and New Year. It is recommended that your au pairs be given one weeks paid holiday after 6 months and 2 weeks paid holiday after 1 year. If your au pair has been with you less than 6 months this will be unpaid holiday. Should the family take a holiday together you should plan to include your au pair. If this is not possible, you can pay for your au pair to return home for the time you are away, or see if she can stay with a friend. If your au pair is willing to stay and house-sit, they must be paid properly and you should ask friends and neighbours to be available for help if she needs it. Generally as a rule, au pairs should not work on public holidays and should be given these days off. If you leave the au pair in your home while you are away, you must ensure they are left with adequate food and central heating and that they are paid on time.

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Driving Licences
If your au pair needs to drive your car, it is unlikely that they will be an experienced driver. You may want to consider paying for some driving lessons, preferably in your car, to ensure that your au pair becomes fully acquainted with driving on the left and has an understanding of the highway code. You should also insure your car for your au pairs use and in the unlikely event of an accident or damage, you should not expect an au pair to pay. You must buy the petrol for use while your au pair is on duty, but the au pair might pay for petrol if she uses the car for personal use when off duty.

Police Registration
Au pairs from non-European countries should register at their main police station within 7 days of arrival, taking 2 passport photographs with them for verification. This is usually at the au pairs own cost.

Medical Treatment
If your au pair is from an EU country they should bring a stamped E111 form with them which will entitle them to NHS treatment if they become ill or have an accident. However, if they are from a non-EU country they are required to have private health care insurance. They can register with the familys doctors surgery and will usually be accepted onto the doctors list at their discretion. They will be expected to pay standard charges e.g. prescription charges, dental charges, etc.

Travel Arrangements
Au pairs should have a return ticket or sufficient funds for their return journey upon arrival. They are responsible for their own travel expenses. Families should arrange for the au pair to be collected from the airport or bus terminal either in person or to arrange for a taxi to meet them.

When things go wrong

If things do not work out between the au pair and the host family the agency must be informed where they will try and help resolve the problem. If it is clear that the relationship has broken down, the family must give the au pair a minimum of one weeks notice, unless there are extreme circumstances in which case the agency must be informed immediately. Most parents know that au pairs do not offer the benefits of trained, British nannies. For an au pair, childcare is a means to an end, i.e. so that she can stay in the country cheaply and improve her English. Parents who need many more hours of childcare than an au pair is supposed to provide, hire them because they are such good value compared with a British alternative. If an au pair is doing more than 30 hours a week then the spirit of the scheme is being ignored and what the family has in fact is a foreign mothers help. This isnt a problem if she is from an EU country (see above) and is being paid for full-time work. Too many parents ask an au pair to do many more hours than she is meant to and too many au pairs are given far too much sole charge or sole responsibility for the children while both parents are away working.

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Au pairs can be placed by agencies with a family living anywhere in the country, but most prefer to live in Greater London or in one of the big cities, where they can go to classes and work close to other au pairs. There are several hundred nanny, mothers help, and au pair agencies all over the country with the greatest concentration in the South East. There are agencies which specialise in trained or very experienced nannies and which also place some mothers helps. Then there are the agencies mainly for au pairs which have some mothers helps and nannies. The majority of these childcare agencies are members of the Federation of Recruitment and Employment Services (FRES). They undertake to carry out the FRES code of good practice and are kept informed by the association newsletter of relevant legislation and events in the employment world. Employment agencies no longer require a licence to trade, so you might find it reassuring to use an agency that is a member of a trade association such as FRES. An advantage is that member agencies keep a list of current bad nannies and mothers helps who are thought unsuitable for childcare. Screening procedures of au pairs do vary and are extremely difficult to verify. British au pair agencies are sent girls by European agencies which receive a fee from the girls and boys who want to work for a family in the UK. Foreign agencies do see some of the would-be au pairs face-to-face, but for the vast majority of au pairs it is a case of her filling in a questionnaire, providing two passport photos of herself, providing two references (a character reference and/or a job reference) and, usually, a certificate of health from her doctor. The British agency will send these details to a prospective family to consider. Make sure you know how much information you will receive about an au pair: agencies do vary in their requirements. One disadvantage in engaging an au pair is that you wont be able to meet her in advance if she has been recruited abroad. However, it is possible to interview one who is already working with a family and wants a change this is very common in London. Also, many girls come to London and then start looking for an au pair job. Agencies will find a replacement if the first au pair is not a success within the first few weeks. If an au pair leaves before she intended but has completed, say, three quarters of the time promised, then the agency is unlikely to replace her free of charge, although some mutually acceptable arrangement should be found. Even so, as can happen with any form of childcare, you may be left without care for a while while the agent tries to find a replacement. An agency may send a family living in a city details of several different au pairs but if the employer is living in the country she will be lucky to be sent one or two. Families can ring the girl at her home and talk to her but often this isnt a great help in assessing whether she will be happy with you, particularly if her English isnt good. Most employers use agencies to find au pairs or they advertise in The Lady magazine. Employment agency fees range from 250 to 400 plus VAT for a placement. The au pair expects to have her own room, though not automatic access to a car. Some families pay or help pay for the au pairs English as a Foreign Language course (EFL), some pay for her to have driving lessons and some pay the police registration fee required of non-EU au pairs: they have to register within 7 days of arrival in the UK. Just as with a nanny, dont forget the hidden costs of hosting an au pair or a foreign mothers help. There is her food, electricity, heating, lighting, and hot water. If she becomes ill you may have to find temporary help. She doesnt expect to have paid holidays if she is staying less than a year, but many employers give a bonus to mark their appreciation when she leaves.

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Part time and holiday childcarers

Sixth form and college students are often available for part-time and summer childcare jobs, as are others who prefer to work occasionally rather than on a steady basis. Be sure to talk with your neighbours and put up advertisements in local stores where students shop. Childcarers are usually paid by the hour or day and typically earn at least 4 an hour. Childcarers who work occasionally may be shared with other families. For this type of carer, the Medical Consent Form on page 82 may be helpful.

Housekeeper
A housekeeper lives in or out of the familys home, either full or part-time. Responsibilities primarily include housework, laundry, ironing, running errands, shopping, and taking deliveries. They also include collecting school children and driving them to after school activities, preparing their tea, and perhaps overseeing their homework. Often, a housekeeper has had little or no childcare training, but may have had experience raising her own family. Depending on where you live, experienced full-time housekeepers earn around 250 per week. A cheaper option is hiring a young mothers help as a housekeeper to keep house and collect the children from school. Earnings per week start at around 100 net a week for living in.

Baby-sitter
A baby-sitter usually looks after children in the evening so that the parent can go out. They are often teenagers aged 16-18 who charge 4-5 an hour, the highest rates being in London. Nurses and teachers who baby-sit and may have joined a baby-sitter agency, charge more. In England and Wales there is no statutory age when a teenager may baby-sit (in Scotland its 16), but the police may prosecute the parent or guardian if a child left with a baby-sitter is harmed.

Important tips to keep in mind

Families tell us that finding the right in-home carer often involves a long search, usually 6 - 8 weeks but sometimes longer. It is a process that will probably be repeated several times before your children outgrow the need for care. Do everything you can to ensure a good match between your family and the carer you choose. There are a number of ways to improve your chances of making a success of your chosen carer.
I Dont panic over timing I Hire someone you like I Hire someone your children like I Trust your feelings!

Dont panic over timing

Take the time to hire the best possible person for the job, rather than settling out of desperation for someone youre not sure about. This may mean arranging for a temporary nanny until youve found a satisfactory permanent one. A change in carer can be hard on everyone, so look for the best fit, not the quickest fix.

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Defining the Job

Once youve made the decision that in-home care is right for your family, its time to think more exactly about what the job will include and what type of employee you want. Knowing what you expect of your carer will help you zero in on who may be available, what her salary should be, and where to look for her. An employment agency may be able to guide you in these considerations. Whether you use an agency or not, it can help to make some basic decisions before you begin the search.

The basics
When do you want your nanny or mothers help to start?
Allow yourself plenty of time to find your carer. Recruiting, screening, and interviewing can take several weeks, whether youre looking on your own or working with an agency. On the other hand, a carer who is available to work when you first start looking may not be able to wait several weeks until you need her. If you find someone you feel is right, be prepared to hire a carer earlier than you expected. You might even appreciate the extra time this gives you, your children, and the nanny to get used to each other. Flexibility on your part can be a great asset in attracting the right candidate. If you are considering hiring an au pair, you dont need to allow quite so much time as less interviewing and checks are involved. Also remember, the best time to recruit an au pair is September for a 9 months-plus stay and January for a 6 months-plus stay.

Do you want a live-in or live-out nanny or mothers help?

Many families are initially interested in having a live-in nanny for convenience and greater flexibility. Although you will need to arrange specific, limited hours and duties for her, the very fact that she does live in your home may make her more available for emergency childcare (when you unexpectedly have to work late, for example) or occasional additional care (perhaps on a Saturday night). Parents who frequently need care for late or overnight hours may benefit from live-in care. Of course, families negotiate in advance how they will reimburse the carer for such extras. In London and big cities, where the cost of live-out help is expensive, finances may dictate hiring a live-in carer. Live-in carers generally receive a lower salary because they are also getting room and board. Live-out carers might also be very difficult to find in rural and suburban areas where public transport is less available. Its worth thinking carefully, however, before making a commitment to employ live-in help. Are you prepared to have another person living in your home? Do you have room to accommodate another adult (a private room is essential and a private bathroom is preferred)? Will your family and the nanny be able to have the privacy that you will all need? When she is off duty, will she be welcome in your kitchen, the sitting room, and other areas of your home? Will you be bothered if she doesnt have plans for her weekends off and stays at your home? Will you mind if she has friends over? Will it bother you if she stays out late at night? Do you want a carer who will be essentially another member of your family sharing meals, attending family outings, asking for advice, and so on?

I I

Put together a description of the job Consider the qualifications of your ideal nanny/mothers help Decide on wages and benefits

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Do you need full-time or part-time help?

How many days and hours will you actually need a carer for? Will your schedule be consistent, or will it change from day-to-day or week-to-week? Will you need help in the evenings and weekends, too? Keep in mind that full-time nannies usually work 40-60 hours a week; if you find your childcare requirements exceed this range, consider hiring a second carer perhaps an au pair or explore a combination of childcare options. Otherwise you run the risk of burning-out your nanny and losing her.

Defining job responsibilities

Now is the time to make your list of all the tasks that you want the carer to perform. Think about the typical day you envisage for your children when being looked after by your nanny. What do you want them to do together play, read, go on outings, work on projects? Be clear about whether you are looking for someone solely to take care of your children or someone who will housekeep, too. If housekeeping is a priority, do you mean light housekeeping tasks (tidying up, loading the dishwasher, etc.) or more serious chores such as vacuuming and dusting, cleaning the bathrooms and floors, laundry, cooking, and errands? Try to be realistic. A mothers help may not be able to do a good job of taking care of your children and cleaning your house. Set priorities for any work to be done that is outside the realm of children. Use the Job Responsibilities check list over the page to help you define your position. Choose appropriate duties from the list and add any extra duties. Later, when you hire a carer, you can attach this list to the work agreement or contract you will sign together.

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JOB RESPONSIBILITIES CHECKLIST

Childcare duties: Sole charge Planning activities Food preparation (children only) breakfast lunch tea snacks Feeding Bathing Dressing Transport to/from school to/from activities and friends to/from doctors appointments etc. Within defined limits, being responsible for visiting friends of the children Helping children with homework Other (specify) Daily Twice a week Weekly Occasionally

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Child-related housekeeping duties: Tidying childrens rooms and toys Making childrens beds and changing sheets Vacuuming/cleaning floors in childrens rooms Cleaning childrens bathroom Childrens laundry Shopping for children (food, nappies, etc.) Other (specify) Other housekeeping duties: Tidying up Family meal preparation: breakfast lunch tea Cleaning kitchen Family laundry Ironing Making familys beds and changing sheets Vacuuming and dusting Food shopping Other errands (cleaners, post office, etc.) Caring for pets: feeding walking dog Caring for plants Other (specify)

Daily

Twice a week

Weekly

Occasionally

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Your Childcarers Qualifications

Before you begin looking for a carer, you should consider what qualifications youd ideally like her to have for the job. Nobody is perfect and when you begin screening candidates youll want to have a clear idea of where you are willing to compromise. In order to do this, it is helpful to identify your highest priorities in advance.

Deciding on your priorities

What matters most to you in a nanny or mothers help? Think about the following:

Age
Does her age matter? Do you want an older, more mature woman (who perhaps has raised a family of her own) or would you be happy with someone younger?

Education
Is a carers formal education important to you? Is a trained NNEB nursery nurse a prerequisite? Or would you be as happy with a carer who has done a quickie course of up to a year? Some families have found loving and experienced carers who may lack formal educational credentials. Would you consider hiring someone like that?

Experience
Do you want a carer who has had experience with children, especially ones who are the same age as yours? What kind of experience is acceptable and what is essential: just baby-sitting; or having brought up a family or helped with an extended family; or perhaps having supervised experience at a playgroup, day nursery, or nursery school?

Skills
Do you need someone who can: drive, cook, play sports, do housework, iron, help your children with school homework? Do you want her to have training in first aid?

Preferences
Do you want a non-smoker? If you are a vegetarian or have other strong dietary preferences, will it bother you if she doesnt share them, or the other way around? Do you need a nanny who likes pets (or at least isnt allergic to them)?

Personality
Think about the kind of person you want to have in your home taking care of your children. What attributes are most important? A good sense of humour? A quiet demeanour? Someone who is outgoing? Takes initiative? Flexible? Creative? If your carer lives in, do you mind if shes a morning person or a night person? Neat or messy? Do you prefer someone who keeps to herself or someone who wants constant companionship? Do you want a nanny who is comfortable with supervision and direction or someone who prefers to make her own decisions?

Values and culture

Would your child benefit from a mothers help who speaks a different language? What if her English is limited? Suppose her religion is different from yours? Does someone with a very different cultural background appeal to you?

Family background
Are you interested in a nanny who comes from a large or small family? Do you prefer someone with an urban or rural upbringing? Remember that in addition to having special experience, the person who cares for your children must be able to tolerate long hours in the company only of children. You must be able to trust her. She will be alone with your children in your home and she may share with your family some of its most intimate moments. Many skills can be learned, but temperament, attitude, and compatibility with your family are innate qualities you must feel confident about, or the arrangement is not likely to work.

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What is the job worth?

Since you may be competing with many other families for a short supply of in-home nannies, it is in your best interests to develop a compensation package that makes your position attractive to prospective employees.

Salary
Your carers salary will, of course, be tied to her job responsibilities, working hours, and qualifications. The more you expect her to do and the more time she is expected to be on duty, the more you pay. If she is experienced or trained, she will expect a higher salary. Nanny salaries vary by region but are highest in London and the South East. Salaries for live-in carers usually start at a minimum of 180 net per week, for a mothers help with not much experience. For an experienced NNEB or BTEC nursery nurse, live-in salaries generally begin at around 200 a week, rising to 280. When deciding on a salary, youll want to take into consideration whether you have a newborn or more than one child, and whether the carer will regularly work 40 or 60 hours a week. Salaries for live-out carers range from 250-320 net for a 50-hour week, again depending on experience, qualifications and region of the country. Experienced or trained maternity nurses who are on duty 24 hours a day generally receive 400-600 gross for a 6-day week. Families provide extra time off when the nannys hours exceed the agreed schedule and some pay overtime (time and a half). While not included in the formal work agreement, families may offer a bonus at Christmas and incentives throughout the year if they are pleased with the carers performance. A pay rise after a years work is expected. See the information about performance reviews on page 85. For more information about taxes and your legal responsibilities as an employer, please call LifeWorks and speak to a consultant.

Benefits
It is customary for most families to offer paid bank holidays and at least 2 weeks paid holiday within a year of service, as well as 2 weeks sick leave. In addition to more standard benefits, weigh the value of other aspects of your total compensation package. For example, if you are hiring a nanny and can provide separate quarters for her (rather than just a bathroom down the hall from the family) she will undoubtedly recognise the value of having such privacy. Likewise, it is a plus if she has access to a car for her own use, as well as for family-related errands. If she is using her own car to transport your children, you should pay a car allowance of a certain amount per week or reimburse her on a per-mile basis. You may also want to make sure her car insurance cover includes transporting your children. If not, you should provide that cover for her. You can also enhance a live-in arrangement by providing a private phone line (where the nanny would pay her own telephone bill). You will quickly discover that a good nanny or mothers help is worth a great deal. Youll want to be as creative and generous as possible to keep her in your employ. How much will all this cost? Your total costs for employing a nanny will depend on a variety of different factors, including the experience and qualities you require, the basic salary you pay and any additional benefits you decide to offer. The budget sheet on the following page will give you rough estimates of the expenses you might expect to take on when you hire an in-home carer.

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SAMPLE BUDGET SHEET

Estimate costs for employment on in-home carer for 1 year Estimate A is based on the salary of a full-time, live-in nanny who earns 200 net a week and works an average of 50 hours. Estimate B is based on the salary of a part-time, daily housekeeper who earns 4 an hour and works 25 hours a week (100 a week net).

Type of cost

Estimate A Full time

Estimate B Part time 5,257 374* 297 338

Carers net salary per annum Carers tax Carers NICs Employers NICs

10,370 2,053 1,097 1,355

Cost to employer Optional extras: Extra motor cover (if carer is under 25) Agency fee (including VAT) Payroll service (including VAT)

14,875

6266

160 881 140

410 140

Grand total

16,056

6,816

*Assuming this is her only wage. The figure would rise sharply if she had another job as well.

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Recruiting on your own

Now that you have defined the job and decided what qualifications are important to you, the next step is to find someone suitable. Searching for a nanny or mothers help without the help of an agency involves advertising, networking, making calls, putting up advertisements and making decisions about the suitability of those who telephone.

Writing and placing an advertisement

The Lady weekly magazine has taken advertisements for nanny, au pair and every sort of domestic staff position for decades and is a popular choice with nannies and employers. A large proportion of the ads are from the London area, but parents and carers from all over the country get it. Another source for jobs wanted and vacant is the weekly magazine Nursery World. One of your best bets is to advertise in your local newspaper. Experience demonstrates that the smaller and more local the paper, the more likely it is that you will be contacted by appropriate candidates. This is especially true when youre seeking a carer who can commute to your home each day. Also, it is worth ringing your local job centre and letting the staff know your requirements. They may well have someone suitable, registered with them. Here are some ideas that may help when youre writing and placing an advertisement.
I Check the Situations Wanted section in your local newspaper and in the free advertisement

broadsheets to see if there is anyone who meets your needs.

I Look for other nanny ads. If you find a local newspaper with many such

ads, you will know it is probably a good place to advertise. Reading other employers ads can help you phrase your own and, even though you might not want to include the salary, may give you some idea of wages in your area.
I When you write your advertisement, be sure to include

information about: - ages and number of children - hours and days needed - live-in or live-out - area you live in - any special perks or benefits that may attract applicants (such as a car, travel, a swimming pool, health club membership).
I Be sure to mention anything special you require, such as:

- driving own car or yours - English-speaking - childcare experience and references - non-smoker.
I Do not include:

- specific salary - minimum age - race, sex, or religion.

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Parents who include specific salaries in ads often find they have limited their pool of candidates. Many nannies simply dont respond to ads when the information does not seem negotiable. Also, remember that the law generally prohibits discriminating against employees on the grounds of age, race, gender, or religion, though there is more leeway when a private individual is hiring someone to work in his home. Many newspapers will not accept ads that include words that might be interpreted as discriminatory. If you have a specific preference, try to think of descriptive words that personify the kind of person youre looking for. For instance, if you prefer a younger nanny because you think shell be more likely to play actively with your child, instead of saying, Looking for nanny in early 20s... try something like, Seeking energetic carer who will exercise active toddler. Most newspapers charge by the number of words or lines in the ad, so eliminate any unnecessary words such as articles (a, an, the) or prepositions (by, to, with, etc.). It is worth adding a few helpful adjectives to describe your children (demanding, energetic, etc.) to give the ad some personality. Words describing the candidate (experienced, stimulating, bright, and so on) can also help put off unwanted responses. If the newspaper arranges advertisements alphabetically, start your ad with words like A nanny needed, Adorable infant, Childcare wanted. Ads located at the top of a section or page seem to generate the greatest response. Ask the paper whether they can display your ad in the top section. If you dont want applicants to call direct, you can give a box number. Not many employers use this, as the interview process takes much longer while they await candidates letters, though a letter can be revealing. Alternatively, you could provide an e-mail address instead.

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I Look at local newspapers for ideas I Make up advertisements and flyers I Tell everyone you are looking for a nanny/mothers help I Use local resources: schools, community centres, health centres, etc.
Sample advertisements
The style and wording of the advertisements below are typical. You might adapt one of these to your own requirements. If you would like additional ideas or assistance with wording the advertisement, just call LifeWorks and ask to speak to a LifeWorks consultant.
I Nanny Needed: Enthusiastic, loving, experienced person to provide care in our home for two girls, ages 13 months and 3 years. Must

be non-smoker and able to provide own transport. Competitive salary plus perks. Hours: Monday-Friday, 7am-6pm, with occ. overnight when parents travel. References. Call [insert name(s)] weekdays from 3-6. Call: [insert number].
I Baby Care Needed: Professional couple, mum and dad travel, seek loving person, experienced with infants, to

live in and care for newborn, beginning Dec. 1. Hours: 8am-6pm, Monday-Friday and Saturday evenings. Spacious basement quarters, including own bathroom and phone line, plus use of car. Must like cats and be non-smoker. Call weekends, [insert number], with references and salary requirements.
I Housekeeper/Childcare: Experienced, reliable person wanted to clean our home

mornings and care for our 6 and 8-year-old sons after school. Hours: 9am-6:30pm, Monday-Friday. Must have full driving licence. Competitive salary and benefits for right person. Call [insert name(s)] weekdays: [insert number].
I Teacher Wanted: Current or former teacher for care of 7-year-old girl. Warm, caring individual to

provide stimulating environment after school, 3.45-7pm, Monday-Friday, term time only. No weekends. Must have own car and be interested in organising art and music activities. References. Call evenings after 7pm: [insert number].
I Adorable Child Needs Nanny: Energetic person to care for an active toddler in our home. Live in/out. Requirements include

minimum 1 year childcare experience, though NNEB preferred. References essential and willingness to make at least a 1year commitment. Hours: 7am-7pm, Monday-Friday. Generous salary, 2 weeks paid holiday, occ. travel, extras. Call [insert name(s)] evenings 7-9pm: [insert number].
I Live-Out NNEB Needed: Two Putney families wishing to share nanny are looking for loving, experienced,

trustworthy person to look after two kids in our homes (alternating houses each week). Must have own car, references and be a non-smoker. Salary negotiable, generous holiday package. Call [insert name(s)][insert number], or [insert name(s)][insert number].

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Other ways to look for a carer

While classified ads are an excellent way to begin your search, many families have found nannies and mothers helps through other means. Distribute your own ad to some of the places listed below. If you have children who like to draw, ask them to colour in the ad or draw a picture on it. School-age children may want to design their own.

Friends and colleagues

Word-of-mouth can turn up surprising leads. Let your friends and associates know that you are looking for in-home help. They (or their carers) may know of someone. Mention your search to your GP and the parents of your childrens friends, put up an ad on your childrens school noticeboard or on the noticeboard of a local secondary school or college if you need part-time help. Dont rule out contacts in other areas of the country.

Childcare courses
In about May, get in touch with the course tutor of the CACHE 2-year Diploma at your local further education college. Ask her if she could put you in touch with any of the students who will graduate in the summer and want a nannying job. If you have a small baby it is also possible to take on a student for 2 days a week in term time who helps with your child as part of her work experience. It is also worth getting in touch with the few private, fee-paying nursery nurse training colleges. Two of the colleges Norland and Princess Christian have their own employment agencies which place students in their first job. Apply well ahead of time as these are the crme de la crme of the nanny world and are much in demand. Local colleges and universities often have students who are enrolled in psychology, nursing, or other relevant courses. Ask to put your advertisement on a college or university careers office noticeboard. A student may be a less expensive option, especially if you are able to offer room and board in exchange for part-time childcare.

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Sixth formers
A reliable sixth former who is doing A-levels or a City & Guilds general or childcare National Vocational Qualification often appeals to families who need a part-time mothers help or after-school care for school-age children. It is best to contact schools directly.

Religious organisations
Local religious organisations often know of members who are actively looking for work or they may be willing to post job vacancies on their notice boards. Contact secretaries and youth directors at religious organisations in your community.

Job Centres and local employment agents

These are the first places many job applicants go to look for work. Information about your in-home carer requirements will reach large numbers of people who are job-hunting.

Local Education Authorities

A good candidate for your childcare job might be a teacher who isnt currently working in the classroom full-time. Call the local authority and check on the availability of their supply teachers.

Senior citizen centres

You may be able to find a retired person who would like to earn a little extra money by taking care of children, either full- or part-time. Contact the local Ofsted for ideas and help, and ask where it would be best to pin notices.

Other public notice boards

Look around your area for other places to put an ad. Community centres, drop-in centres, public libraries, family planning centres, childrens stores, playgroups, nursery schools, self-service laundries, YWCAs and health clubs are just a few of the places likely to have them. Even Web sites may offer a way to recruit a carer.

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Using a nanny agency

Some families choose to use the services of a company that specialises in finding nannies. There are a hard core of well known and established nanny agencies and many of these are members of FRES. Many agencies come and go or are absorbed by another. There is competition between agencies to attract girls to register with them as there are more jobs vacant than good nannies to fill them, particularly in London. Nannies usually register with two or three agencies if they are in London; outside of London where there are fewer agencies from which to choose, they may be loyal to one in particular. Being more like back bedroom enterprises than the larger nanny agencies, there is a faster turnover of au pair agencies but there are also some long-standing ones which have been run by the same women for years. Whatever the type of agency, it is best to go to one that has been around for at least five years, although of course you could receive an excellent service from a brand new agency which wants to attract custom and really makes an effort to please.

About nanny agencies

Agencies tend to specialise either in nannies and mothers helps or in au pairs. Some au pair agencies do a bit of mothers help and nanny placements and these agencies will charge much less than a nanny-only agent. There are also some agencies in the middle that do a bit of both. A fourth type do mainly domestics and carers for the elderly but do some nannies as well. Nanny agencies recruit from all over the country for live-in nannies and locally for daily nannies. Whatever the case, an agents main task is to match families with appropriate carers. In trying to accomplish this, a good agency will guide you through each phase of your search.

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What an agency does

First, the agency staff will help you clarify your childcare needs. Theyll assist you in defining your expectations and preparing a job description that accurately reflects what the job involves and the type of individual you think will be most suitable for your family. They will advise you on nanny qualifications, appropriate pay, and benefits. Then they will either review their pool of applicants or recruit specifically for you. After screening applicants in person preferably or by phone, a reliable agency will not only collect references but verify them all, calling and speaking directly to the person who gave each reference and asking them to confirm the reference in writing if at all possible. It is wise to pressure the agency a bit about how thorough its checks are. Agents charge a lot of money for placing a nanny and you want to be shown how they justify this cost. They always say they check references but the number checked may vary from nanny to nanny, depending on how difficult it is to track down former employers. Some agents are more conscientious, persistent and thorough than others. Given the few but nevertheless worrying horror stories in the media about bad childcarers, employers should expect a lot from their agents. Equally, agents should have high standards when it comes to ascertaining whether or not a nanny or mother's help is bona fide and has no unsuitable history. Some agents have better instincts than others. There are 'rogue' nannies about who shouldn't be caring for children and who sound alarmingly plausible at interview. Some agents may delegate a lot of the screening to a less experienced employee, often an ex-nanny, who may not have the same antennae in sensing that a nanny (or indeed an employer), is not what she seems. A strongly positive aspect of hiring an agency, in theory at least, is that given its experience it should be able to recognise the right candidate for you possibly better than you can yourself especially if you are new to hiring nannies. If the agent asks you to come in for a chat with her, she should get a few bonus points. It is well worth going to visit the agent, whether invited or not, so she can get a better picture of the sort of person you are, as well as your priorities and foibles. She can then assess more accurately the sort of employer you are (mean, generous, laid back, demanding, etc.) and whether you would like any of the girls on her books (and if they would like you). Generally the agency will select one or two candidates for you to interview. If you are looking for a live-in nanny or mother's help, most of them will provide you with a written portfolio on each applicant, summarising her background, training, experience, and references. Although rarely done in this country, you can ask an agent to organise a background check on the nanny in question. If you'd like more information, call LifeWorks to speak to a consultant. Once you've hired a nanny, the agency should be in regular contact with you and the nanny during a specified refund/replacement period to make sure both of you are satisfied with the placement. The agency should have a written policy stating whether the nanny can be replaced and whether you will get all or part of your money back in the event that you or the girl are not satisfied. Be sure to familiarise yourself with its refund policy before you hire an agency. Some agencies that specialise in live-in placements also provide after-care help and back-up for the nanny. They will, for example, give her a list of other nannies in her area and an assurance that the agency is there to help her if she has any problems, especially if they involve her employer.

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I I I I I

Decide whether an agency is right for you Contact agencies: request a review of their literature Call agency references Thoroughly discuss your needs and job description with each agency Ask questions before you select an agency

Advantages of working with an agency

Finding a live-in nanny on your own can be difficult and time-consuming. A good agent can provide short cuts by helping you decide whats best for your family and what is realistic to expect from a nanny. An agency can relieve you of the burden of placing ads, responding to inquiries, and dealing with people whom you may find inappropriate for your needs. It may be particularly helpful and save time for families who have just moved into an area. If your employee proves unsatisfactory within the agreed trial period, an agency should send you other applicants immediately. Any agency which has taken a big fee from you and doesnt take a no quibble approach to any dissatisfaction you may have should not be used again. Most agents try very hard to come to a mutual agreement about nannies who dont work out.

Disadvantages of working with an agency

Using an agency costs a great deal more than locating a carer on your own. While agencies can save you time and legwork, they dont necessarily do anything you cant do on your own, if you have the time. Also, while many agencies are reliable, some parents find there are those who do not fully consider the needs of the family or nanny when arranging placements. Others discover that the screening of the nanny has not been as thorough and reliable as they would have liked or expected. Parents who want a top notch nanny and are prepared to pay for that, should go straight to well established agencies who do nothing else but place trained or experienced staff. An agency which concentrates on au pairs and does some nannies, may charge less for a nanny placement than a nanny-only agency but it may be less sensitive when it comes to screening.

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Costs of an agency
Agents fees for nannies vary widely, depending on the type of service. Agencies which dont specialise in live-in nannies charge a fee of 350-450 (possibly with VAT on top), while the specialist agencies charge anything from 500 up to 1,000 plus VAT, or a months net wages. A few charge a steep 10% of gross salary plus VAT. Agencies that provide emergency or temporary placements charge a weekly placement fee while the nanny charges as much as 80 net a day. Many agencies expect clients to pay a non-refundable registration fee, but clients should get a good loyalty deal if they use the agency regularly.

If the nanny/mothers helper doesnt work out

A reliable agency will have a written replacement/refund policy that spells out its obligations to you if either you or the nanny decide the job is not a success. Usually agencies specify replacement/refund periods ranging from 30 to 90 days (60 days seems to be the most common, although occasionally an agency will honour its guarantee for as long as 1 year). Some agencies will only provide a replacement nanny, while others will refund all or part of your money. Its important to study such policies carefully before becoming involved with the agency.

Finding an employment agency.

A LifeWorks consultant can help you find an agency. Also FRES will send you its list of members which offer nannies, mothers helps, and au pairs. Your friends and associates can be useful sources of information as well. Be sure to ask if their experiences with agencies they mention have been satisfactory or not. The Yellow Pages are also worth checking. (The Good Nanny Guide published by Vermilion has an agency directory.)

How to select an agency

Even if an agency has an excellent reputation, its services may not meet your specific needs. As in any business transaction, it is wise to find out as much as you can about the company youre dealing with and to evaluate whether its methods of operation meet with your preferences or style. You can use the following questionnaire to help gather information about the different agencies you are considering. As you talk with people at the agency, pay attention to how they respond to you. Are they asking you a lot of relevant questions about your children and your job requirements? Are they making suggestions to help you clarify your expectations? An agency that doesnt have thorough information about your preferences and family needs will require sheer luck to make a good match. Always remember, even when working with an agency you trust, your own screening and interviewing of applicants are your best safeguards. Keep in mind, too, that most agencies (particularly the au pair agencies) are not large or sophisticated organisations. Many operate out of the owners home with just two or three part-time employees. Because of this, you may get an answering machine when you call. If so, be sure to leave a clear message. Give your name, address, telephone number, the best time to reach you and when you need a carer to begin.

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Q U E S T I O N S TO A S K A N A G E N C Y
1. What types of nanny or mothers help do you place (full-time, part-time, live-in, live-out, temporary)? 2. How do you gather information about families? Do you make home visits? Do I need to fill in a written application? Do you ask for references for the families with whom you work? 3. How long does it usually take to make a placement? Do you think you will be able to locate a nanny for me within the time I have? 4. Will you assign one person to be my contact at the agency throughout my search? (Note: If you are assigned one person to work with, make sure he or she has a thorough understanding of your needs, listens attentively to what you say, and seems to care about your familys particular situation.) 5. How long has your agency been in business? 6. How long have the staff been in the business? 7. How many placements have you made during your years in business? In the past year? In my geographic area? What percentage of these have lasted for at least 1 year? 8. Do you have names of some families who have used your agency that I could call for references? (Note: You could ask these families how their search went, how appropriate the applicants referred to them were, and whether they found any inaccuracies in the stated cost and refund policies.) 9. What is the minimum age requirement for a nanny or mothers help to be listed with the agency? 10. What kind of education or training must the applicants have? None? GCSEs? The CACHE Nursery Nursing Diploma (NNEB) or just its Certificate? BTEC Diploma, City & Guilds, a National Vocational Qualification in Childcare and Education (see pages 3-6)? What are the agencys opinions on the different qualifications? 11. How much and what kind of childcare experience do you require of applicants? 12. Do you work only with people who can legally work in the UK? 13. Do you interview all the candidates in person? How many people at the agency interview them and how long do these interviews usually last? 14. How many written references do you require from the applicants? Do you verify all the references with a phone call and ask for confirmation in writing? What types of questions do you usually ask the referees? Do you ever interview a referee in person? 15. Will you give me a copy of the written references, and the names and phone numbers of the phone references, so that I can call and check them?

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16. How do you recruit your candidates? Do you recruit just in the local area or further afield? Do you use recruiters in other parts of the country or abroad? If so, are the personnel there trained by the agency? How much experience in employing people do you require of the agents you use? 17. Will I be able to interview all of the candidates in person? If the candidates have to travel for these interviews, who pays the travel expenses? 18. Will I have to pay a registration fee to begin the process? If so, will this fee be deducted from the placement fee if I hire one of your candidates? 19. Is the placement fee billed as a lump sum, or can the payments be spread out over time? 20. What is your refund or replacement policy? Are there any exceptions? Agencies on the whole are too busy and short staffed to supply extensive support for nanny or employer once a placement has been made, though they are happy to sort out disagreements and misunderstandings between employer and employee. Some will give the nanny or au pair a list of other girls working near her. A few au pair agencies do organise trips and hold coffee mornings for girls who happen to work near them. 21. What support services do you provide for the nanny and/or the family after a placement is made? Do you have a nanny network organised in my area? Do you have regular social or educational events for the nannies? Do you have a newsletter? Do you provide telephone support? (Note: Support is especially important for nannies coming from outside the local area. Beware of agencies that do not look out for the welfare of their applicants. You dont want to end up with a lonely or homesick nanny who leaves your family after a short time.) 22. What does my fee pay for? How much of it does your agency devote to assuring the quality of the candidates? How much to your thoroughness of screening? How much to your support services? 23. Where do you make most of your placements? (Note: You may be tempted, if you live in London particularly, to choose an agency that is far away because its fees are lower. Make sure such an agency is accustomed to working long distance, and will provide as much loyalty and support as it can, even though you are a long distance client.) As a general rule it makes sense to try a local agency, especially if recommended, because the agent can see you in person and get a much better idea of your personality and what you are likely to want in a nanny.

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Choosing a carer
Whether you have decided to search for a nanny, mothers help, or au pair independently or have employed the services of an agency, sooner or later you will have lined up one or more candidates for the job. The way you screen, interview and hire a candidate will be pretty much the same no matter which method you have used to get to this point. This and the following section of the guide, will take you through the steps of choosing and hiring a carer.

Screening candidates
Not everyone who applies for your childcare job will be qualified or appropriate. Most agencies will screen potential candidates for the position but if you are looking for a carer on your own, youll save a great deal of time by screening candidates before you interview them. Try to set aside a few blocks of uninterrupted time to talk on the telephone with applicants. If you are busy when a candidate first calls, take her phone number and ask for a good time to reach her. If you have an answering machine you might want to put a special message on it for a while just after you have placed an advertisement. Ask people who respond to your advertisement to leave their names and telephone numbers, a good time to contact them and some information about their work experience. Even if you are hiring a nanny for the first time, you will quickly get a feel for the applicants who seem appropriate. Some may impress you with their credentials, background, confidence and maturity. Others may appear to have a total lack of qualifications. Trust your instincts. Its your home, your family, your children and your money. Always remember, youre in charge and you make the final decisions about who to interview and who to hire. You are the person who is best qualified to make these decisions.

Telephone information
You can obtain a great deal of information when an applicant phones you about the position. Here are some areas to cover:
I Ask if she is available to work the hours you need. Find out when she is free to start work. I State the basic responsibilities of the job and ask if she is comfortable with all the duties that go with it (if the

candidate seems interesting, you can discuss job responsibilities in more detail later).
I Continue the screening by asking her to tell you a little about herself: her background, her experience with

children, her reasons for wanting to be a live-in or live-out carer, her long-term plans and so on.

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I Unless salary is negotiable, make sure the applicant is willing to work for the amount you are prepared to pay. I Ask her if, on the basis of this first conversation, she is still interested in the post.

The screening questionnaires on pages 60-62 will help guide you through this stage of the search. If youre doing the screening yourself, use the first questionnaire. Make some photocopies to keep by the phone. Have one available for each applicant who calls, so that you can jot down notes and impressions. If someone else, such as an answering service, is screening for you, give them copies of the second questionnaire along with a short paragraph that summarises your job description.

I Use an answering machine or answering service to take calls, if possible I Screen candidates I Ask likely candidates to complete an application I Interview I Check references and background information
Curriculum vitae/application
If you are working through an agency, it will send you information about candidates experience and work history. If you are searching for a nanny on your own, ask likely candidates to send a CV, or to complete the application form you send them. You can use the form in this section (both these techniques take time, so many employers gather most of the information they want over the telephone and ask the nanny to bring her CV with her to the interview). Look at the work history of each candidate who interests you. You may want to check one or two references at this point. Many employers start to check references after the interview, having told the interviewee they like her and that she is on a short list. If the girl has been sent by an agency, references may already have been checked, though it is advisable that you double check. Employers are under time pressure, since they know that if they like one girl, some other employer is likely to like her as well. The temptation to offer a job and have it accepted before doing a references check is strong. Resist it. Youll find a form to guide you through reference checks on page 71.

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SCREENING QUESTIONNAIRE
When screening applicants yourself

Name Address City Phone (day): Best time to reach How did you hear about the job? County (evening)

Date

Postcode

Review specific duties and salary. Given these, is she is interested in the job?
Does this sound like the type of job you are looking for?

Discuss background, experience, and training related to childcare.

What experience have you had with children? Of what ages? Do you have training in childcare? Where was your last job? How long were you there? Why did you leave? What other type of work have you done? Why are you looking for childcare work? What are your plans for the future?

Decide if you would like to interview her.

I think it would be a good idea if you came for an interview. Can you supply me with the names and phone numbers of two previous childcare employers and the name and number of your last employer? Will you send me a CV, or fill out and return the application form I send you? You may want to ask her whether she would be willing to undergo a police check/health check/background verification before being hired. This is not often done in this country but it is something worth considering (see page 69-70). Record your first impressions of this caller.

To complete after call:

Received CV/application. Scheduled interview: date time place Have received reference names and numbers.

Confirmed first interview 24 hours in advance.

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SCREENING QUESTIONNAIRE
When someone else is screening for you

Please use the following form to ensure that we have complete information about each caller: Date and time call received Name Address City/Town Phone (day) Best time to reach How did you hear about the job? County (evening) Post Code

Job description
(Substitute your own information here.) We are looking for a full-time, daily parents help to provide childcare for two children. The position would involve arriving at our house by 7.30am and helping to get the children off to school (supervising dressing, toileting, packing school bags, making breakfast, packing lunch, etc.). During the morning you would be asked to perform housekeeping tasks (vacuuming, dusting, laundry, etc.). In the afternoon, one of the children will be returning home and at this point the focus would be on childcare (reading, playing, making tea, planning activities, etc.). The second child will be home later in the afternoon, and you would finish at 6.30pm.

Does this sound like the type of work you are looking for?
What experience have you had with children? Of what ages (this could include care for younger siblings; raising own children; baby-sitting; working in a school or out-of-school camp)?

Are you currently working, or have you ever worked, as a nanny or full-time mothers help? How long were you/have you been in this job? Why did you leave or why are you leaving?

What relevant training have you had?

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Are you currently employed? If so, where? If not, where was your last job?

Why are you interested in working with children?

Do you ever smoke? Do you have a clean valid drivers licence? May I see it? Have you had any first aid training? Do you have any health problems that might affect your job performance?

Thank you for calling. We would like to interview you but need to talk to some other applicants. Could you now give us the names of two previous childcare employers and the name and number of your most recent employer?

References
Name Address

Phone

Name Address

Phone

Name Address

Phone

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I N - H O M E C A R E R A P P L I C AT I O N
Personal information

Please print or type Name Address City/Town Phone (day) National Insurance No. Person to call in case of an emergency Name Phone (day) (evening) Relationship County (evening) Postcode Date

Yes No Do you smoke? Are you allergic to pets? Are you willing to help look after a pet? Do you have a valid drivers licence? License No.

Have you ever had your licence endorsed? If yes, explain

Can you swim? Do you have first-aid training? Last date updated

Have you had CPR training? Last date updated

Do you have any health problems that might affect your job performance? If yes, explain

Have you ever been sacked from a job? If yes, please explain

Have you ever been convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain

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On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being highest), please rate yourself on the following as accurately as possible:
Ability to take the initiative Ability to relate to children Ability to follow instructions Control of temper Patience Sense of humour Ability to relate to adults Honesty Ability to make friends Neatness Ability to speak up when something bothers you Maturity Common sense

Child-related experience
Please list the childcare positions youve held in the last 5 years (include live-in posts, day nurseries, nursery schools, looking after younger siblings, relations, summer camp, baby-sitting, etc.):

Family or job name

Dates from-to
(give month and year)

Hours/work

Childrens ages

Reason ended

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Have you had any other child-related experiences you would like us to know about? Please explain.

What do you enjoy the most about working with children?

What do you enjoy the least?

How do you set limits and agree rules in advance with children?

Educational background
Please list names of schools attended, the year you left, and with what qualifications.

Other
I declare that all of the above information is true to the best of my knowledge.

Signature

Date

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Interviewing
If at all possible, youll want to meet face-to-face with the person who may be sharing your home. Its always best if you can conduct an interview in person, although it may not be possible when the applicant lives a great distance away. One possibility in such a case is to travel to a city near several candidates in order to interview them personally. Alternatively, it may be possible to interview them at a well known venue in central London if that suits you and them. Another possibility to consider, if its within your budget, is to pay the travel expenses for a distant applicant to come and be interviewed. If she looks promising, get her to spend a short trial period with your family before you hire her. This may be money well spent. However, if you cannot arrange a personal interview, use the interview guide on the following page to question the candidate over the phone. Feel free to call a candidate more than once if you want more information or just want to test your first impression a second time. For candidates who live nearby, it may be a good idea to try conducting your first round of interviews in some neutral area a restaurant or a playground, for instance rather than inviting every stranger who answers your ad into your home. If youre interested in a candidate, youll probably want to conduct a second interview in your home, so your children can meet her, too. This can be a good way to get a sense of how a candidate deals with children in general, and how she interacts with your children in particular. If you are seriously considering an applicant, give her a chance to spend some time alone with your children (you will want to be no further away than the next room). School-age children may want to be at the interview. Have them come up with a few questions of their own to ask. It is important to be aware of the prospective nannys own agenda. If she needs to start work immediately, she will take another job in preference to yours if your methods of screening and hiring take too long for her. Time and time again, employers are bitterly disappointed when the nanny they want has just accepted another job because they didnt move fast enough. Before you begin interviewing, make a list of the questions you intend to ask every applicant (see the Interview Guide on page 67). If you obtain the same type of information from all the candidates, youll have a better basis for comparison and you wont overlook any essential facts. It is also a good idea to take notes during the interview and always invite the interviewee to ask any questions she may have about the job or your family. In interviewing, as in every stage of the process, the most important thing to remember is to trust your instincts. Be cautious, however. You may be so impressed with an applicant during the interview that you want to offer her the job on the spot. Dont do it, unless you have already checked her work history and references, or unless you temper your offer with this simple statement: We are interested in having you as our nanny, but I must check your references first. I will call you back by (specify a time).

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INTERVIEW GUIDE
1. Why do you want to take care of children? What do you enjoy most about children? 2. What do children like best about you? 3. What appeals to you about taking care of children in their own home? 4. What do you hope to gain from this job? 5. What was your last childcare experience? Why did it end? What other experiences have you had caring for children? What other kinds of jobs have you had? What did you like most about each job? What did you like least? (From references received, relate the candidates answers to her length of stay and reasons for leaving). 6. How long do you think you would be willing to stay in this post? What do you plan to do next? 7. Can you cook? What foods do you think are good for children? 8. Apart from live-in jobs, have you ever lived away from home, maybe in your own flat? How was it? 9. Do you consider yourself a good housekeeper? 10. Sometimes we have to work late/travel/be away over a weekend/etc.; would you be able to adjust your schedule to take care of the children? 11. Have you ever had to handle an emergency of any kind? What happened and what did you do? 12. What do you think makes for a happy childhood? 13. What was your own childhood like? Tell me about your family, what is important to them (and you), how you all got along, good experiences, problems, any crises and how they were handled. What did you do together as a family? Describe the community in which you grew up. 14. What is your relationship with your family like now? How do they feel about you taking this job? 15. Do you know any other people who work as nannies or mothers helps? 16. What do you like to do to have fun or relax? Do you have a hobby? 17. Do you watch TV? What programmes do you watch regularly? 18. What do you like most about yourself? What would you most like to improve about yourself? 19. Have you ever been involved in allegations to do with maltreating a child in your care.

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If your child is an infant

1. Would you pick up the baby whenever she or he cries? What would you do if the baby didnt stop crying? 2. How would you soothe the baby for a nap? 3. Where might you take the baby for outdoor time? [Link] you feed a baby its bottle or would you encourage him to feed himself?

If your child is a toddler

1. How do you think toilet training should be handled? 2. How would you respond to a child having a temper tantrum? 3. What activities would you try on a rainy day? 4. What would you do if my child had a serious accident? 5. What are some of your favourite nursery rhymes and childrens songs? 6. How would you respond if my child refused to eat a wonderful meal you had prepared?

If your child is a pre-schooler

1. What TV shows (if any) do you think are appropriate? 2. What indoor/outdoor activities would you plan? 3. What would you do if my child misbehaved?

If your child is school-age

1. How would you feel about being responsible for my childs friends when they come over to play? 2. Would you be able to drive my child to and from lessons, clubs and other activities? 3. What type of activities do you enjoy doing with older children? 4. How do you handle sibling rivalry? 5. How do you feel about helping with homework?

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References and background checks

Never hire a carer without checking her job history and personally telephoning her referees. Most experts agree that you can never talk to too many referees and that you should preferably pursue them all, especially if the comments of some you contact give you cause for concern. The form on page 71 will help you make telephone reference checks. If a candidate provides written references, ask for telephone numbers and call the referees to confirm the information given in the CV and interview. If your agency has screened candidates, you still need to check again yourself. If there is an applicant you are seriously considering, make sure to get all the relevant phone numbers of the different references and call them. If you are calling a referee who is a previous employer of the applicant, ask specific questions that you have asked the candidate as well. For example, how many children did the applicant care for, of what ages and on what schedule? This is a good way to verify the information youve received. Ask about the candidates performance, too. Listen carefully: a persons tone of voice will often tell you more than what he or she actually says about the applicant. Also watch out for what she doesnt say, as this can also be very revealing. If a candidate does not have verifiable references, or if any information from one of her referees makes you uncomfortable, do not hire her. Trust your feelings: theyre important!

Conducting background checks Criminal Records Bureau checks:

If a nanny is unwilling to assist with a CRB check form, then alarm bells ring and unless she can explain why, a responsible agency will refuse to place her. If its a member of FRES, her name will be passed on to other members.

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The CRB (Enhanced Disclosure) provides information about both spent and unspent convictions, cautions, warnings and reprimands. It also gives information from lists held by the Department of Health and the Department for Skills and Education about the individual if they are considered unsuitable to work with children. Furthermore, it also provides information held on List 99, the Protection of Children Act list and the Protection of Vulnerable Adults list. Theses are lists of adults deemed unsuitable to work with children but who may not have been prosecuted. Many nanny agencies will carry out an enhanced disclosure check on all the nannies registered on their books, however as a parent, you should always ask to see a copy of this. If you are employing a nanny without the help of an agency, you can apply for a CRB check yourself. Your LifeWorks consultant can discuss this process with you.

When you interview carers: I Ask questions that will give you information about their motivation, work history, work habits and personality. I Use the following only as a guide. Dont feel you need to ask all the questions listed. I Think about what is important to you, as well as what is appropriate to the person you are interviewing. Feel free to add questions of your own. I Remember, open-ended questions will give you more information about the carer than questions that can be answered with a yes or no.

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TELEPHONE REFERENCE CHECK

Name of applicant Reference provided by: Address City/Town Phone (day) County (evening) Postcode Date

1. How long have you known the applicant? 2. In what capacity do you know the applicant (friend, neighbour, employer, etc.)?

3. Is the applicant currently taking care of your child? 4. If yes, how long has she been doing so? 5. Has the applicant taken care of your child in the past? 6. If yes, what were the approximate start and end dates? 7. If the applicant has cared for your child, was/is this work regular or occasional?

8. On average, how many hours per week did she work for you? If steady, what was her schedule?

9. How old were your children at the time the applicant cared for them? Were they girls or boys?

10. What were her responsibilities?

11. Why did (or will) she stop working for you?

12. Do you know of any physical or psychological limitation that would interfere with the applicants ability to do a good job, including an eating disorder or a family conflict?

13. Are you aware of any drug or alcohol abuse on her part?

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14. Was the applicant usually on time? Was she often sick?

15. Describe the applicants maturity, reliability, and ability to handle emergencies.

16. Describe how the applicant relates to children. Is she playful, warm, etc.?

17. How does she discipline children?

18. What are her strengths?

19. What are her weaknesses?

20. Is she willing to listen to your ideas about childcare?

21. If you needed a nanny now, would you hire her again? 22. If not, why not?

23. Overall, would you recommend the applicant as a good nanny? 24. Why or why not?

25. Other comments:

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Becoming an employer
Youve interviewed and checked references, and youre prepared to make someone an offer. If she accepts, you can now add employer to the list of roles you already play. Hiring a nanny, au pair, or mothers help is just the beginning. Keeping your carer requires just as much effort!

Starting off on the right foot

In addition to fulfilling your legal obligations as an employer, your ability to manage your carer is an important ingredient in the success of your arrangement. Consider the following points:
I Prepare house rules in advance, particularly in the case of live-in carers. In some cases, you may want to include house rules in your

work agreement or contract.

I Dont hire a nanny without a written work agreement. After the two of you have both agreed on job responsibilities, hours, salary,

benefits, etc., summarise the results of your negotiations on paper (see page 80 for a sample work agreement).
I Set a probationary or trial period so you and the carer have a chance to see if your relationship will work. During the trial period make

sure you talk informally with her about how things seem to be going. If you hired her through an agency, youll probably tie your probationary period to the agencys refund/replacement policy. If youve hired on your own, consider a 30 or 60-day trial period.
I Arrange a weekly session at a set time (perhaps a Friday or a Monday) when she can tell you about her routine and how she and the

children are getting on. This is particularly important if you are working. Encourage open discussion, including any worries, grumbles, or resentments so that they dont build up. Tell her about any you may have.
I Schedule performance reviews. It is a good idea perhaps once a quarter to use one of the weekly sessions to review her

performance and maybe to redraw some of her schedule, especially if she is looking after a baby whose needs change with rapid growth and development.
I Always pay your carer according to your agreement, even if you need her to work fewer hours than usual for some reason.

Although you may occasionally have to ask her to work extra hours, it is not reasonable to expect her regularly to put in more time than your original agreement specifies, even if she is compensated. If your schedule needs to be changed, use the weekly chat session to re-negotiate the written work agreement.

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Your legal role as an employer

Sometimes employers and/or employees want to treat the latters salary informally by not paying income tax and National Insurance contributions, or not declaring her full salary and thus not paying enough of either. This is illegal. As an employer, you have certain legal obligations to ensure the nanny or mothers help pays the right taxes and NICs. For further information contact LifeWorks and speak to a consultant.

House rules
Every family has its own stated or unstated rules and no-one knows the rules of your household better than you. When you have a nanny, particularly one who lives with you, you may have to spell out some rules you have always taken for granted. Dont assume anything. If you expect a certain behaviour, be clear about what it is. Its better to err on the side of being too specific, rather than too vague. Discuss house rules before your carer starts work, even on a trial basis. Some families find that it is best to include house rules as part of the work agreement. Avoid the temptation to postpone thinking about house rules until a problem comes up. If you handle the situation in advance you can spare yourself and your carer future misunderstandings and possibly hard feelings.

Absolute, non-negotiable rules

Most families have certain rules that take precedence above all others. Any violation of these absolute rules would probably cause irreparable damage to the family/nanny relationship. In fact, the family might decide a violation of these rules is cause to dismiss her. Such absolute rules typically pertain to unauthorised use of the familys property, working under the influence of drugs or drink, theft, lying, and excessive tardiness or time off work. Its very important that you make it absolutely clear to the nanny what you will not tolerate. Youll feel better for having set the rules and for explaining to her where you stand. Shell appreciate knowing whats expected of her.

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I Know your legal responsibilities as an employer I Prepare house rules I Sign a written work agreement I Plan to spend some time helping your carer get started I Communicate! I Schedule regular performance reviews
Other rules to consider
Below are some other issues that might be addressed in your set of house rules.

Television
If you have rules about television and video viewing, let your carer know how much is acceptable for the children and her to watch when she is on duty.

Personal use of the telephone

Tell your nanny how you feel about her making or receiving personal phone calls while on duty. Do you want to set a cut-off time for incoming calls, unless there is an emergency? Would you like her to limit the use of the phone to the times when she is off duty, or could she make calls when your children may be napping or otherwise occupied? Do you want to encourage her to be brief on the phone, using it to make plans to meet the person concerned, or do you regard her chats on the phone as one of her perks? You may want to remind her that her calls will be itemised on your quarterly bill.

Personal use of Internet

If you have Internet access in your home discuss with your nanny how and when it is appropriate for her to use it. Can it be used during the day with children? Can she use it for personal reasons when she is off duty? Keep in mind that if she is working a long way from home, she may want to communicate with her family and/or friends via email. Consider your Internet charges as well. Do you pay a fixed fee for unlimited access or are you billed per minute? Communicate this with your nanny. You will also want to communicate to your nanny any rules or guidelines you may have regarding your childrens use of the Internet.

Her friends and visitors

Make sure you talk to her about how you feel about her having visitors (other nannies?) during work hours as well as who and how many can come into the home when she is off duty boyfriend(s), girlfriends, or her mum? What are the rules about guests if she is caring for your children while you are gone for any extended length of time (overnight in particular)?

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House calls and visitors

Let your carer know how you want your home phone answered during the day. How much information is she is to disclose to unknown callers? For example, is she to give out your work number, when you are expected to return, etc.? Let her know also how you want her to handle answering the door during the day to service calls or salespeople, etc. Always give her a list of anyone expected to call during the day.

Use of your property and off limits areas

There is a fine line between having someone living in your home to perform a job and having your privacy invaded. If there are areas in your house perhaps the master bedroom or your office that youd prefer to be out of bounds for the nanny, tell her. The same is true of your possessions. If you dont want her to have anything to do with your stereo equipment, drinks cupboard, or other items, make this clear. By the same token, if you have a live-in nanny or au pair, respect her privacy too. Short of an emergency, for instance, there is probably no reason for you, or your children, to enter her room unless invited.

Transport
If your carers responsibilities include driving, be sure you feel confident in her abilities, particularly if she is an au pair used to driving on the other side of the road. Some employers organise a few lessons for a nanny who is unused to driving in a big city. Some guidelines should be established concerning on duty and off duty car rules. An example might be that any petrol used, or an accident incurred, while she is on duty will be paid for by the employer (unless drinking or reckless behaviour is involved), while she will bear the costs if she is off duty. How do you feel about your nanny taking your children on public transport?

Music
Musical tastes vary. If there is a type of music you have an aversion to, or dont want your children to be exposed to, let your carer know. If you are concerned about volume, tell her.

Special instructions
Every household has its quirks: the door that wont open unless you turn the knob a certain way, how you like your dishwasher loaded, strange noises and so on. Brief your nanny on such items and make sure she knows how to operate all other appliances in your house, especially the security system, if you have one. She should also have on hand your GPs name and number; information on your childs blood type and all allergies or medicines he may be allergic to (like penicillin). She should have written directions to your house in case she needs to dial 999. On page 82 youll find a Medical Consent Form to copy, which your nanny should carry at all times.

Curfew (live-in carers)

If you feel strongly about the hour you want your nanny in for the evening, establish a curfew. If youre the kind that worries until everyone in the household is safely home, youll resent having your sleep curtailed because youre waiting up for the nanny to return, or being disturbed when she does come home. You might have later curfews on weekends or when she doesnt have to care for the children the next day; you might arrange that she call you if she will be home later than usual. You may or may not encounter nanny resistance on this point but remember, its your home and your job. Set it up the way it feels right for you.

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Kitchen privileges
Let your carer know the rules of the kitchen. Can she use it to cook for herself? Can she eat anything in the refrigerator? Would you prefer her not to cook while you are preparing dinner or would you enjoy her company? Does your family have any dietary restrictions (such as vegetarian, kosher, etc.)?

Other considerations
Naturally, there may be other things that you want to call to the nannys attention. There is a great deal of truth to the old adage that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Try to anticipate any use of the house that might upset you and discuss it in advance.

Work agreement
One of the easiest ways to develop a smooth professional relationship is to spell out the details of your arrangement in writing. A written work agreement, contract, or statement of employment is a tool to help you and the nanny or mothers help initiate and maintain clear communication about your mutual expectations. Families working with a nanny agency often find that the agency will not honour its guarantee of a successful placement until it receives a completed work agreement between the family and the nanny. A document is a smart, unemotional way to make sure you both have the same understanding of the job. Remember, however, that it is just a starting point. There is no substitute for flexibility and proper communication between families and carers if the working relationship is to remain harmonious and productive.

When should you finalise your work agreement?

It is wise to draw up a simple work agreement before the carer starts to work for the family and certainly no later than after her first few days in the job. Avoid the temptation to do without a work agreement entirely because things went so well during the interview. The best time to complete any agreement is when you are all on good terms, not when there are problems. Keep in mind that the work agreement represents the results of your employer/employee negotiations; it is for the protection of both you and the carer.

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What should a work agreement include?

At a minimum, it should include:
I details about the carers working hours and time off I her pay, including salary, overtime, and benefits I basic job responsibilities I evaluation period and notice to quit agreement I any other agreements made between the employer and employee.

The agreement should cover a specific period of time (1 year is customary) and should include a date when it will be formally reviewed, so both parties know when to anticipate any changes (a pay rise or a change in hours worked, for example).

How detailed should the work agreement be?

Even the simplest work agreement should summarise the major and minor points to which you have both agreed, especially relating to time, money, duties, and benefits.

Work schedule
Whenever possible, it is best to specify the working hours, such as Monday-Friday, 7am to 6pm, or whatever schedule she is expected to work. If her schedule does not involve set hours, it is important to note the expected number of hours per week and perhaps an approximate schedule for example, 10 hours per day, 5 days per week, and two evenings (approximately 4 hours each). If you are planning a flexible schedule like this, write down when you will set the exact schedule for a given week for example, 7 days in advance. Live-in carers will also appreciate your specifying in the agreement what their days off will be, including at what time of day time off begins and ends. It is also important to note whether you intend to guarantee the carer a set number of hours per week and pay her whether she is needed or not. For example, if your parents come to visit for 2 weeks and want to take care of the baby, or if your family decides to take a 2 week holiday, will the carer lose 2 weeks salary (it is customary to guarantee pay in such situations)?

Pay
Be sure to specify the carers salary and indicate whether she is to be paid hourly, weekly, or monthly, and on what day. Make sure you also include pay (or provision for extra time off) for hours worked beyond her regular schedule.

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Income tax
The work agreement should specify how you are planning to handle the matter of tax. For information on taxes and other employer responsibilities contact LifeWorks and speak to a consultant.

Benefits
Your ability to attract and keep a qualified nanny is likely to depend in part upon the extras you offer her. The work agreement should indicate what your benefits package includes, such as holidays, sick leave, and compassionate leave. It should specify whether the carer may take her holidays at times of her choice or only when the family takes one. The document might also describe the carers access to your car, whether for child-related errands only or for personal use; and details of any perks, such as a private phone line, cable television, self-contained accommodation, etc. Since part-time employees in other professions often receive fewer benefits than their full-time colleagues, or none at all, you may be tempted to think the same should hold true for part-time carers. However, finding and keeping a good part-time carer is sometimes even more difficult than finding a full-time person, so many families decide it makes good economic sense to offer almost the same benefits to a part-time carer as a full-timer would receive.

Job responsibilities
Problems that arise between families and carers often occur as a result of misunderstandings about the latters duties. From the parents perspective, the carer may not be doing all she was hired to do. From the carers perspective, duties to which she never agreed are being added without an increase in pay. The importance of being clear about your expectations cant be over-emphasised. While it is not possible to anticipate every little task that may be called for, by the time you have hired a nanny you should have a pretty good idea of what her responsibilities will include. After all, you already were aware of your basic requirements when you started the hunt. In preparing for your search, you probably made a preliminary list of her daily and weekly responsibilities. During the interview, you discussed with her what her duties would be. Now you simply need to write these job responsibilities down as part of the work agreement.

Other conditions
When hiring a live-in carer, families often find it helpful to summarise details about living accommodation. At the very least, use the work agreement to note the carer is to be provided with separate quarters, a private room, private or shared bath, etc. Some families also note such arrangements as: a food allowance for her if she or the family prefers that she eat separately; whether the carer is allowed to have friends visit her during her off hours; who may stay overnight if at all; whether she has a curfew; etc. A responsible family does not abuse or take advantage of a carers willingness to be helpful (nor does a responsible nanny abuse a familys flexibility and willingness to provide for her needs). If you find that you are constantly having to ask the nanny to work extra hours or do extra chores, your needs are obviously different from those anticipated, and it is time to re-negotiate the work agreement. Dont wait until the she feels overwhelmed to restructure your arrangement; the odds are high that if she feels overloaded or gets burned out, shell simply leave. On the following page youll find a simply worded, sample work agreement that might be particularly useful for a live-out carer, but could be used for any live-in person. The words you choose to use in your agreement will depend on your relationship with the nanny and your own personal style. Some parents who employ a carer to live with them prefer a more formally worded document that details the specifics of the arrangement. If you would like a sample of a more formal contract, or assistance in wording an agreement, just call LifeWorks and ask to speak to a consultant.

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SAMPLE WORK AGREEMENT For a live-out carer

Angela Ford, the nanny of Michael and Colleen Douglas, agrees to the following:

Hours
a. Childcare will be provided Tuesday to Friday from 7am to 6pm b. Care will be provided one Saturday per month (5 hours maximum), on a date mutually agreed upon, a minimum of 2 weeks in advance

Salary and benefits

a. Ms Ford will be paid 230 gross per week for childcare provided Tuesday-Friday and will receive 4 per hour for care provided on Saturday. (She will receive 5 per hour for extra hours, to be negotiated in advance, except in an emergency.) b. A portion of Ms Fords wages will be withheld to pay her income tax and her National Insurance contributions. The Douglas family will make their NI contribution and ensure that all monies are paid to the Inland Revenue. c. Ms Fords salary will be paid by cheque each Friday, even if for some reason Ms Ford is not needed during her regularly scheduled hours. d. Two weeks paid holiday will be provided each year. This time does not have to coincide with family holidays. Up to five paid sick days may be taken.

Job responsibilities
a. The primary responsibility of Ms Ford will be to attend to the two Douglas children. b. Other responsibilities include keeping the childrens rooms tidy, preparing breakfast and lunch for the children, and doing the childrens laundry (detailed job description attached).

Other
a. Hours and job responsibilities will be reviewed jointly by the Douglas family and Ms Ford after 3 months. b. After 1 year, this work agreement will be reviewed. Ms Ford will receive an increase in salary to be negotiated at that time. c. On Tuesdays and Thursdays Ms Ford may use the family car for transporting the children as needed. d. Ms Ford will abide by the attached house rules. e. Ms Ford attests that she will not take any alcohol or drugs or any other substance that may impair her ability to care for the Douglas children and that may also impair her ability to live peaceably with the Douglas family.

Signature Date Signature Date

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Building a partnership with your nanny

Congratulations! Youve completed the difficult task of finding someone you feel good about to care for your children. Youre paving the way for a productive ongoing relationship between your new carer and your family. However, no matter how sure you feel about your choice, minor conflicts are inevitable in a relationship as intimate and important as the one you will develop with the nanny. Communication, fairness, respect, flexibility and co-operation are key ingredients for keeping even the most compatible situation going smoothly. Here are some tips for making the relationship work:

Before the nanny begins

If your nanny or mothers help is from another area, collect maps of your town or city showing surrounding areas and public transport routes. Your local council and Tourist Information Office may provide a new resident pack that contains brochures and maps of the local area, information about interesting places to visit and information about religious organisations and local recreation areas. If its a while before the nanny comes to you, send her a letter about, and a picture of, your family, house and other people or places relevant to your life. Some families make and send a video. If your children like to draw, you may also want to encourage them to send her a card or make a welcome card to put in her room ready for her arrival. Encourage her to send a picture of herself which you can put up where the children can see it. This will help your children feel more familiar with and comfortable about, their nanny even before she begins her job. Create a list of emergency and important phone numbers and place it by all the telephones. Make an extra copy for her to carry with her at all times. If both parents travel a lot and dont have close relations for the nanny to refer to in an emergency, it would be wise to prepare a Medical Consent form (on page 82) which gives the nanny your permission to make any medical decisions to do with the children in her care. Get her to carry it at all times. You may also want to create a list of places the children like to go. Include information about the activities they enjoy that are provided at these places for instance, the library and the times and days of the story hours.

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MEDICAL CONSENT FORM

As of caregiver, decisions regarding our child(ren) (name(s)), in the event of a medical emergency where l/we (parents name(s)) (date), we hereby consent to allow our (name), to make any medical

cannot be reached. Doctor: (name, address, telephone number)

Dentist: (name, address, telephone number)

Health insurance company: Group number: Policy number:

Signed

Date

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Helping your new nanny or mothers help get started

If you possibly can, stay at home with the new carer during her first few days on the job. If you are asking your last nanny to help orientate her, have them spend anywhere from 3 days to a week working together. Take her around your area, go to the park, introduce her to your neighbours. Be sure to show her where your doctors surgery is and where the nearest hospital is for emergency purposes. The time you are able to spend with your new nanny will give you a feel for each other and for your respective styles of dealing with your children and setting up their day. It will also give her and your children time to get acquainted without the stress of an abrupt transition.

Building your relationship Plan for regular communication

Busy schedules will often squeeze out opportunities to talk to the nanny, so dont leave them to chance. You may want your carer to keep a written journal of your childrens day. Or you might try using a wipe-off memo board or the memo function on your answering machine to leave messages for each other. Try to schedule a time to get together every week, perhaps over coffee, so you and she can assess how the job is going. Use the occasion to discuss questions or concerns either of you may not have thought to bring up earlier, as well as to talk about the childrens changing needs.

Treat your nanny with respect

Your nanny is entrusted with your most vulnerable and precious possessions the children. Youll want to show her how important her role is to you. Introduce her to your friends and family (ask her first how she would like to be introduced: as nanny, by her first name, as Ms, Mrs, or Miss?). Give her and your children the room to develop a caring relationship. Listen to what she has to say about them. Never undermine her authority in front of them. If you find you cant treat the nanny with respect, then she is not right for your family.

Work together
Dont make the nanny impose rules you dont impose as a parent. By the same token, make it clear that she cant let your children break rules you have established. If you work together in this way, you will be creating a more stable atmosphere for your children and preventing unnecessary conflict.

Be fair and reasonable

Always pay the nanny according the work agreement, even if for some reason you need her to work fewer hours than usual. Although occasionally you may have to ask her to work extra hours, it is not reasonable to expect her regularly to put in more time than your original agreement specifies, even if she is compensated. If your schedule or needs change, it is best to sit down and re-negotiate your arrangement with her.

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Encourage flexibility
While a clear understanding of roles, duties, and expectations is essential from the start, you and your carer will also want to have a mutual commitment to meeting unexpected needs. For example, if you are late coming home one day, you might really appreciate her taking the initiative to start dinner or bath the children, even though these tasks fall outside of her usual responsibilities. By the same token, if she has had a particularly tough week with an out of sorts 3-year-old, you might be able to arrange to get home a little earlier on Friday afternoon, to give her a few extra hours of free time. Dont forget to be grateful. Express appreciation and praise often. Well-deserved praise makes everyone feel good. Be generous with pay rises and benefits as well. A surprise plane ticket for Christmas or her birthday can say a lot. Positive reinforcement goes a long way. Creative perks and benefits for example, a health club membership or a subscription to her favourite magazine can also show your appreciation.

Be thoughtful and sensitive

You will want to have a warm relationship with anyone who plays such an important role in your family. You are hiring a person, not a robot. You may want to remember her family as well with small gifts. Be willing to contribute positively to the relationship. Provide adequate time off, and encourage your nanny to do things that are important to her for example, make friends, take classes, have hobbies and take exercise. Homesickness and loneliness are two of the reasons why nannies and mothers helps leave their jobs. Trained nannies may want to join the Professional Association of Nursery Nurses (PANN, Tel: 01332 372337), which has a 24-hour helpline and will help them get in touch with other members.

Keep appropriate boundaries

Although your relationship with your carer could develop into a friendship over time, remember that your roles in relation to each other are primarily professional. She may not want to hear about certain aspects of your personal life and you may prefer not to be her confidante, either. You will have to work out a level of relationship that is comfortable for both of you but the best relationship will probably balance warmth and caring with professional distance. In the final analysis, good communication can head off or solve many of the problems that may arise. If you and the children are generally pleased with your nanny, it will be well worth the time and effort to straighten out relatively minor difficulties. The situation you now find yourself in will vary, depending on the sort of carer you have chosen. Whether she is an older woman who goes home to her family every night, a trained live-in nanny, or perhaps a mothers help, you have done your best to find a carer whom you, your partner and your children like and trust. With mutual respect and an effort on both sides to make a go of it, the arrangement should make your life as a working parent a little easier.

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Reviewing the carers performance

As mentioned earlier, choosing a time to review her performance is important. If you and your carer have been having regular informal weekly chats, there should be no surprises at review time. Think of the review as an opportunity for you both to talk about her accomplishments and challenges, as well as goals for the future. You and she may want to make some changes in the schedule and add or subtract a few duties or responsibilities. Be sure to document any revisions in the work agreement. At the end of 6 months, you might want to conduct your second review. Evaluate your carers performance and set clear, realistic objectives together. These objectives should be as specific as possible (for example, John is learning to read. Please work with him on vocabulary words for four afternoons each week during the summer). If theres anything about the nannys performance that you dont like, talk about the changes you would like to see in a positive way that will guide her. There may or may not be a salary adjustment or a bonus at this time. The review at the end of the first year is important, because with any luck she likes working with you so much that she will have decided to stay a second year. This is the time to make any significant changes in her job description and pay. Carers expect a salary increase after 1 year. A typical rise is generally between 5 and 10 per cent. The points you might want to discuss with her as you assess her performance could include:

Childcare sills
I creativity I quality of relationship with the children I discipline methods I meal preparation I attention to childrens hygiene (clothes, room, play area) I education of the children (if appropriate or as defined by you) I patience

Work habits
I organisational abilities I quality of the relationship between carer and parent I dependability/reliability I common sense I initiative I flexibility I ability to communicate I attitude I job knowledge

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When your carer leaves

When a nanny or mothers help leaves, it is an emotional experience for your children, yourself and her. There may be reasons, both positive and negative, why she is leaving. Be sure to reassure your children often that the emotions they are feeling (sad, angry, relieved) are OK, and that you are there to help them remember the nanny in the most appropriate way. Know that it is OK for you to have these feelings about the situation as well. Depending on the relationship your family and carer have had, it is best to be as positive as possible about this transition and to prepare your children several weeks (if possible) in advance of the change. If the experience has been positive, you may want to plan with your children a going-away party or favourite dinner for her. Some nannies and children have created Good-bye Books for each other. These are scrapbooks which include photographs, drawings, favourite sayings, or stories about their time together. A nanny can make an orientation pack for the new incumbent. This pack could include the childrens favourite recipes, tips about certain household appliances, pets, furniture in her room, interesting or amusing stories about the children that reveal their personalities and fun places in the area for her to explore. Some parents enlist the departing nanny to help them study applications for her job, they get her to speak to applicants on the telephone and show around those who come for an interview. If the nanny is leaving abruptly or under less than positive circumstances, try to avoid upsetting the children by pointing out all of the reasons why she is going. It can be difficult but try to focus on the positive, happy times the children have had with her and reassure them by telling them who will care for them now and what is going to happen next. The sudden departure of a carer can be especially stressful for you and your family. Please remember you can call LifeWorks and ask to speak to a consultant at any time for help in finding agencies in your area to provide a temporary nanny while you decide on your options for a replacement.

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Glossary
Here are some general descriptions of words and phrases you may come across as you read through this handbook or search for childcare. age-appropriate a description of toys, activities, and behaviours that are suitable or fitting to a childs specific age (for instance, puzzles with small pieces are not age-appropriate for children under 3). au pair usually a young woman who lives in as a member of the family and helps out in return for pocket money. She is unlikely to have any formal training in childcare, though may have some experience from her own family or through babysitting. Au pairs are not usually suitable for pre-school aged children. babysitter generally someone who comes to your home to provide supervision and care for children on an occasional basis. There is no legal minimum age for babysitters. Although it is not illegal to leave children under 14 unsupervised, parents may be liable in criminal law if their child comes to harm whilst unsupervised or in the care of a babysitter who is under 16. No special training or background is required. Babysitters are usually paid by the hour or day. back-up care an additional or alternative childcare arrangement to cover those times when regular childcare breaks down or is not available (for instance, when a child or carer is ill, or during holidays or emergencies). child:adult ratio, child:staff ratio the number of children compared to the number of supervising adults or staff members in a care situation (e.g., three children in the care of one childminder would be a 3:1 child:adult ratio). See page 12 there is a good clarification of this. Children Act 1989 a law which, among other issues, aimed to improve the quality and standards of childcare provision for the under8s. It covers rules on safety, numbers and discipline among other things and outlines good-practice guidelines which are not legally enforceable but which suggest standards of quality. developmentally appropriate a description of activities and programmes suitable to a childs specific physical, social, emotional and learning growth (for example, a developmentally appropriate programme for toddlers is not just a scaled-down kindergarten). early years curriculum a curriculum which covers the three to five year age group and sets out goals which children should have achieved by the end of the reception year. educational philosophy a basic set of values and beliefs about children and how they learn, that guides a nursery, scheme, or schools activities.

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employers National Insurance contribution what you must pay if you are employing a nanny or other in-home carer, on top of her wages and her own tax and National Insurance. There are specialised payroll companies which support parents employing a nanny with tax and National Insurance issues. holiday camps residential schemes open in the school holidays, which offer a range of activities for children. They are usually privately run. Some operate as day camps, with the children going home at the end of a session. They may also be called summer schools. in-home care a type of childcare provided by someone a family has hired (a babysitter, mothers help, au pair or nanny) to come into their home on a regular or daily basis or to live with them. key worker one member of staff in a nursery or out-of-school scheme with whom a child develops a special relationship and with whom the parents can exchange specific information about their child. kids club a place where children are looked after outside school hours and during the school holidays. Most are voluntary organisations run by a management committee of parents and others. Montessori an educational philosophy with many different interpretations and applications that generally emphasises children working individually with traditional materials in a self-paced programme. mothers help someone who comes to a familys home, whose principal role is managing its upkeep, but who generally provides some basic childcare in addition to housework, laundry, or meal preparation. Mothers helps often have little or no formal childcare training. nanny-share an arrangement whereby two families hire one carer. A shared nanny can either provide care for both families children in one home or can alternate between the two homes. Nanny share can be difficult to find. Some nanny agencies will help with finding another family, others expect the family to arrange this themselves. The Register is a London publication which can be used to advertise for a nanny share. National Childcare Strategy- the National Childcare Strategy was set up by the government to increase the availability of high quality childcare to meet the needs of working parents. It sets a five year target to establish high quality, affordable childcare for 0 to 14-year-olds in every community by 2003. To help achieve this target, Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships (EYDCP) have been established in each local authority to conduct local needs assessments which must be reviewed every three years. nursery school a type of childcare centre that offers care and educational activities to groups of children in a non-residential setting, usually open for at least part of the day during the school year. Available to children aged 3 to 5 years. nursery class a class for three-year-old children prior to entering reception class.

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Ofsted the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) is an independent inspectorate that monitors and reports on standards in state schools in England, pre-school and education for post-16-year-olds and to register nurseries, childminders and pre-schools. out-of-school scheme a scheme that provides supervised activities for children of school age after school and sometimes before, as well as in the holidays. See also kids club. professional qualifications professional qualifications for carers include the Diploma in Nursery Nursing (NNEB), BTEC in Childcare and Education level 3 (two years) and the NVQ in Childcare which can be levels one to three. registration all providers of childcare for the under-8s must register with Ofsted. They are checked to see that they are of an appropriate standard and must adhere to rules about numbers of children, provision of facilities, record-keeping and so on. When registration is approved a certificate is issued and providers are checked at least once a year. Fees are charged for registration and for the inspections. Statutory Sick Pay what you must pay your nanny or in-home carer if she is absent through illness. Statutory Maternity Pay- what you must pay your nanny or in-home carer if she takes maternity leave. stranger awareness a child aged between 81/2 months and 18 months can distinguish between familiar people and strangers and as a result may become quite clingy at this time. This is a natural phase of development and is a sign of emotional and psychological health. It may mean that some children will take longer to settle into childcare during this time. transitions this will include transitions such as those from home to nursery, nursery to school, or from being cared for by parents to being cared for by a childminder. Children need to be prepared for transitions because they may find them upsetting to their established pattern or routine. The methods that will help children to make these transitions will depend upon their age but it can be helpful to start with short-term visits to a new carer.

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