Thursday, 02 Sep 2010
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Childcare
Childcare decisions can seem daunting and expensive. Sure Start has produced a booklet to help you make choices. Even if you’re not yet ready to leave your child in childcare, it makes sense to start thinking about it. There are plenty of options out there, but which one is right for you? How do you go about choosing and moving forward?
How childcare and early education can help you and your child
Nowadays there are so many different kinds of family set ups, all with a variety of needs and demands on their time and income. You’ll need to work out which is the best arrangement for you - from a personal point of view as well as a financial one.
Benefits for your child
- High quality childcare and early education give your child a head start in primary school, as research shows that it improves their educational, emotional and social development.
- Children with experience of good quality childcare and early education do better in Key Stage 1 national assessments in English and Mathematics at age 7.
- Children who attend a good quality setting are more likely to be more independent, better able to concentrate and more sociable at the start of primary school.
- The benefits of part-time attendance are just as good as full-time attendance.
- Don’t forget that, regardless of the type of childcare you choose what you do at home can make a real difference to your child’s development. Along with good quality childcare and early education, you can support your child’s development by:
- reading to them
- teaching songs and nursery rhymes
- playing with letters and numbers
- painting and drawing
- taking them to the library
- creating opportunities for them to play with friends at home.
Benefits for you
- There are lots of different good quality childcare arrangements on offer which you can mix and match to suit your daily schedule, working hours, study or training.
- Flexible ways of working give you the chance to fit in childcare and studying too. There is also financial help from the Government to make childcare more affordable, regardless of whether you are working or not.
- You can use the free early education places to take a break, even if you are not working or training.
When choosing childcare you’ll want to be confident that your child is being cared for in a safe and stimulating environment.
Affordable Childcare
Many people think that good quality childcare and early education come with a hefty price tag and are only for the well-off. However, it’s worth remembering that whatever your financial position, there are plenty of options. Most families are helped with the cost from the very start, and a growing number of employers provide childcare help.
There are benefits that, surprisingly, many working families in the UK don’t claim because they just don’t know about them or think they aren’t eligible. Missing out on them can make a massive difference to your choices.
Source: SureStart October 2007
Get further information about local childcare and family services including leisure activities from Torbay Family Information Service on freephone 0800 328 5974 or visit the Family Service Directory.
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Last updated : 31.08.2010, 13:58:45