Different types of childcare
Childcare settings can be:
- registered, and
- unregistered.
Childcare settings for children under 12 years old must be registered and inspected by the Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) if it operates for more than:
- 2 hours per day, or
- 5 days per year.
Unregistered childcare settings which operate under 2 hours per day, or less than 5 days per year, may still be high quality but they are not inspected.
You may not be eligible for help to pay your childcare costs if you use an unregistered setting.
Benefits of a registered setting
A registered setting:
- makes sure that children are cared for in a safe, secure, and appropriate environment.
- can be more affordable as you may be eligible for help with the costs.
- has staff that are suitably checked, qualified, and trained to support and look after your child.
- has set adult to child ratios that make sure there are enough staff to care for the number and age of children in the setting.
- has policies, procedures, and insurance in place to make sure that staff and children are cared for and are safe.
- is inspected by CIW inspectors. You can access the reports from settings you may be interested in. The settings can also give you a copy of their inspection report.
Different types of settings
There are different types of settings, which vary by:
- the ages of children they care for,
- the type of building they operate from,
- when they open, and
- the language(s) they use (Welsh or English).
You may already know, or at least have some idea of, the type of childcare you want for your child, or you may want to know about all the childcare available in your area.
A childminder provides childcare from their home.
Children’s age
0 to 12
Opening times and sessions
Childminders are usually flexible, but this depends on demand. They can provide:
- before school (breakfast) care,
- wrap-around care for part time early year education,
- full or part days for pre-school children, and
- full day holiday care.
Languages
Welsh, English, bilingual.
A full daycare nursery usually provide childcare from a purpose-built premises.
Children’s age
0 to 12.
Opening times and sessions
Many nurseries provide:
- playgroup sessions for 2 to 3 year olds,
- wrap-around care for 3 to 4 year olds.
For school age children, some nurseries provide:
- before school (breakfast) care from 7am to 9am,
- after school care from 3pm or 3:30pm to 6pm, and
- full day holiday care.
Languages
Welsh, English, bilingual.
Playgroups may provide care on school sites, but many provide care from a shared premises. For example, in a church hall or Scouts hut.
Children’s age
They provide:
- pre-school sessions for 2 to 3 year olds, and
- wrap-around care for 3 to 4 year olds in part time early year education.
Opening times and sessions
They provide:
- 1 short session per day. For example, 9am to 11:30am, or
- 2 sessions with a break between them.
If a playgroup provider is registered as a full daycare and there is a cross-over of children at lunchtime, children do not stay for more than 1 sessions per day.
Languages
Welsh, English, bilingual.
Cylch Meithrin may provide care on school sites, but many provide care from a shared premises.
For example, in a church hall or Scouts hut.
Children’s age
They provide:
- pre-school sessions for 2 to 3 year olds, and
- wrap-around care for 3 to 4 year olds in part time early year education.
Opening times and sessions
They provide:
- 1 short session per day. For example, 9am to 11:30am, or
- 2 sessions with a break between them.
If a playgroup provider is registered as a full daycare and there is a cross-over of children at lunchtime, children do not stay for more than 1 sessions per day.
Languages
Welsh.
Out of school care is mostly provided on school sites. Sometimes the care is provided at a full daycare nursery.
Children’s age
4 to 12 year olds who attend full time school (from reception onwards).
Opening times and sessions
They provide after school care from 3pm or 3:30pm to 6pm.
Some provide before school (breakfast) care.
Some primary schools offer free breakfasts for children before the start of the school day, but this is not CIW registered childcare.
Some settings provide holiday care.
Languages
Welsh, English, bilingual.
Nannies provide care in the parent or carers home. Nannies are usually not registered by CIW, but they can join The Approval of Home Childcare Providers (Wales) Scheme 2021. This allows you to access financial support with childcare costs.
Children’s age
Usually young children but can include school age children too.
Opening times and sessions
Nannies will work when you need them.
Languages
Welsh, English, bilingual.
Creches can provide temporary childcare for you to attend specific events, such as:
- training,
- learning, or
- an exercise class.
The creches are provided so children can be cared for whilst you do something else on the same premises.
Children’s age
Usually young children include school age children too.
Opening times and sessions
They run alongside the event you are attending.
Languages
Welsh, English, bilingual.
Open access play is registered with CIW, but children are free to leave whenever they like. They do not have to be dropped off and collected by a parent or carer.
Children’s age
4 and above (from reception onwards).
Opening times and sessions
Usually in school holidays only.
Languages
Welsh, English, bilingual.
There are lots of other provisions available, however as the parent or carer needs to stay with and remain responsible for the child, they cannot be classed as childcare. For example:
- stay and play,
- parent and toddler groups, and
- Ti a Fi.
Many schools offer after school activity clubs, such as:
- football,
- French, and
- coding.
Each of these usually only operate once a week. Your child may attend these activities however it is not classed as childcare.
Things to consider when choosing childcare
You need to think about what the most important things are for you and your child when choosing a childcare setting.
Type of setting
You need to decide if your child would prefer a group setting, or a childminder running from their own home. You need to consider if your child needs to be taken to, or picked up from school.
Times
You will need to make sure the setting is able to cover all your working hours.
Location
You may need a setting which is near to your child’s school, your home, or your workplace.
Language
You need to decide if you would prefer for your child to attend a Welsh or English language setting. You can learn about the benefits of being bilingual.
Cost
Childcare can be expensive however you may be eligible for help with the costs, depending on the type of setting you choose.
Availability
You will need to find a childcare setting that has space for your child, for the amount of time you need.
More information to help you find childcare
There are several sources of information about local childcare settings that we suggest you look at before making your choice. These sources include:
This is a national database for parents and professionals.
It holds the current information on childcare settings that have given permission for their record to be available to the public.
Some settings may not have a visible record because they:
- do not have an online record,
- have not been kept it up to date, or
- have not given permission for their record to be available to the public.
You can visit the Child Care Information Wales website.
If you are a parent or carer of children and young people aged 0 to 25 with disabilities or additional needs, you can sign up to The Index to keep up to date with information about services and activities.
There are a number of commercial websites which hold lists of childcare settings. Some advertise on Facebook and other social media platforms. You might also want to speak to other parents and carers about their experiences of childcare settings. You can contact other parents and carers through use of online platforms and via other local networks.
We always recommend you check the information is correct and up to date.