If you have young children, you can opt for a childminder, nanny or private nursery. Childminders and nurseries are both registered with Ofsted (The Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills) and can be found using your local council. A nanny or au pair can be found using local companies but are not subject to inspection or regulation. They are however a more flexible option that can be better adapted to your needs as a family. Au pairs are usually combining your employment with studies and this will need to be factored in to your requirements. Au pairs will live with you and nannies can be live in or out.
The government runs various schemes to help with the cost of childcare so research on www.gov.uk and enquire with your childcare provider to ascertain the most cost effective option.