Skip to content
Essex SEND IASS
Contact us
Contact us

There are lots of different types of childcare to choose from and it can feel a bit overwhelming.  If parents suspect their child has additional needs, they are naturally anxious to know their needs will be supported. You will want to know that your child will be safe, happy and looked after.

Choosing childcare is a hugely important decision for the whole family. This information aims to give you a background understanding for when looking for the right setting for your child.

Types of Early Years Settings

There are two main types of childcare – home based childcare and group-based

Home-based childcare includes registered childminders, childcare in a home environment and the care of a nanny. 
Group based childcare includes day nurseries, playgroups, pre-schools and a school nursery.

Registered child minders

Registered childminders are self-employed childcare professionals who work in their own homes caring for other people’s children.
They care for small numbers, with a maximum of 6 children, and often care for a range of ages from babies to school-aged children. Childminders can be flexible and offer patterns of childcare to support many families.

They are able to take easy advantage of real-life experiences like outings to the park or a library. Just like other forms of registered childcare, they are regulated and inspected by Ofsted. Some childminders are able to offer fully funded early education sessions for 2, 3-and 4-year-olds

Nannies

Nannies are employed by you, to look after your children in your own home. They care for small numbers of children too (usually siblings) and can take care of all aspects of looking after your child, including caring for their clothes and possessions, and cooking their food. Some families agree a nanny-share arrangement, where the nanny offers childcare to more than one family.

Pre-schools, Playgroups and Nurseries

Group provision can vary a lot in terms of the times they are open, so it’s helpful to think about what you need for your child. For example, do you need care all year round or only in term time?

  • What days of the week and hours will you need childcare for?
  • What kind of flexibility are you looking for?
  • Will you need an early morning start in order for you to get to work for example
  • Will you need a lunch club?

This will help you to choose whether a day nursery, preschool, playgroup or school nursery class is best for you or your child. This is a very individual choice. 

These settings come in all shapes and sizes, and some have different approaches. They all have to follow a curriculum called the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework – but how they do it is up to them.

Many nurseries attached to schools have more of a ‘school’ feel with quite a structured day (though not all), whereas some pre-schools and children’s centres have more ‘free play’; some offer unlimited outside time. 

Early Years Alliance - How to choose the right childcare and early education | early years alliance

Applying for a nursery place?

Parents can contact the nursery or playgroup/pre-school directly and check if they have spaces available.  

Find a nursery school place - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

My child may have special educational needs, what should I do?

When you have made a shortlist of early years providers, it’s a good idea to visit and talk to the SENCo which stands for special educational needs coordinator. All maintained nursery schools must have one and other providers are expected to identify a SENCo. Their role includes making sure that all the early years staff understand their responsibilities to children with SEN and making sure that parents are closely involved.

Childminders are encouraged to identify a person to act as a SENCo. Childminders who are registered with a childminder agency or who are part of a network may wish to share the role between them.

Look around the setting when you visit and ask about the activities children routinely do. 

  • Do you anticipate any difficulties for your child in doing a particular activity or accessing a particular space?
  • What might help your child to take part?
  • Ask the SENCo if they have experience of supporting children who present in a similar way to your child. What kind of support did they find worked well?
  • Can the setting show you examples of adjustments being made to support other children with additional needs?

Questions you can ask:-

  • Asking what training staff in the setting have.
  • If your child needs particular health and/or care support, the setting may need to identify and access the training before your child starts, for example to meet any medical or communication needs.
  • You might like to ask how they would ensure that your child has the same quality play and learning opportunities as other children?
    Or it may be important for you to know who will communicate with you about your child. Or how progress is recorded and shared with you.

Before you decide, you could check the OFSTED report for each place you visit 

Also in this section:

The Early Years Foundation Stage

The Early Years Foundation Stage explained

Early Years Language

Early Years Language information and resources

Early Years Support

Early years providers should consider how best to use their resources to support the progress of children with SEN.

SEN Funding in Early Years

Information on Free Early Years Entitlement, SEND Premium and inclusion funding and Early Years Pupil Premium.

How can I defer my child starting school?

Information on Early Year Deferral and Summer Borne Children

Early Years Transition

Settling into nursery or moving to primary school

Toileting Tips

Toileting tips and Support

Early Years Frequently Asked Questions