Local Childcare Providers

Download information about Childcare Costs

Childminders

Usually look after children in the childminder’s own home.

Questions to ask

About the childminder

How long have you been a childminder?
What do you enjoy most about the job?
Why did you decide to become a childminder?
Are you a member of National Childminders Association?

About their training

What relevant qualifications do you have?
What training have you done?
Do you belong to a childminding group or network?
Are you taking part in a quality assurance scheme?
Have you had training in the EYFS (England only)?

About their setting

How many other children do you look after, how old are they and how long have you been looking after them?

Do you have any children of your own? How old are they?
Can you describe a typical childminding day or week?
How do you make sure that you keep a good working relationship with parents?
What arrangements do you have for meals and snacks?
What do you consider unacceptable behaviour, and how do you deal with it.
Which festivals and special occasions do you celebrate and how?

Getting out and about

What would you do in an emergency involving yourself or one of the children?
Do you ever take the children out in the car, and if so, do you have suitable insurance cover, seat belts and car seats for this?
Do you and the children regularly go out on outings during the week?
Do you ever go on special trips out?
Do you have pets or a garden?
What do you do about holidays – both ours and yours?

Meeting registration requirements

How do you make sure the individual needs of each child are met?
How do you support the Early Years Foundation Stage (in England) or the foundation phase (in Wales)?
Can I see your registration and insurance certificates?
Can I see your Ofsted or CSSIW inspection report?
Can I see any references from parents?

Remember that if you phone during the day the childminder is likely to have children around, so ask if it’s a good time to talk and keep your questions short. If the childminder seems suitable, arrange a time and day to visit.

Registered Childminders

There are approximately 27 Childminders in Tring, Long Marston and Wilstone.

Please contact Families Information Service for details of current vacancies on 0300 123 4052. I have details on some of the childminders in this area.

The National Childminding Association may be able to help you with any questions you have about childminders.
Web: www.ncma.org.uk

Childminders Network

Childminders Stay and Play session, every Thursday morning (term time only) at the Children's Centre, see diary page for details

Day Nurseries

Heirs and Graces Day Nursery, Florence House, 2 Christchurch Road, Tring, HP23 4EE.
Open: 8am-6pm
Take: Children aged from 3months - 5years
Tel: 01442 891818
E-mail: info@heirsandgracesdaynursery.co.uk

Monkey Puzzles Day Nursery, The Old School House, Gamnel Terrace, New Mill, Tring, HP23 4JH.
Open: 7.30am-6.30pm
Take: Children aged from 3months - 5 years
Tel: 01442 822255
Web: www.monkeypuzzledaynurseries.co.uk

Tring Park Day Nursery, London Road, Tring, Herts, HP23 6HA.
Open: 7.30am-6.30pm
Take: Children aged from 2years - 5years
Tel: 01442 822584/ 07507 195 088
E-mail: info@tringparkdaynursery.com
Web: www.tringparkdaynursery.com

Pre-Schools

forget-Me-nots Pre school, Tring Community Centre, Silk Mill Way, Tring, HP23 5EP.
Open: Mon-Fri 9am-12pm
Lunch Club - Mon and Fri until 1.15pm
Contact: Lee Eaton, 07958 261539

ABC Playgroup, Akeman Street Baptist Church, Akeman Street, Tring,
HP23 6AA.
Open: M/T/W/F 9.30am-12pm
Contact: Angela Walsh, 01442 824418/822331

First Steps Pre-school, Victory Hall, Station Road, Long Marston, Tring, HP23 4QS.
Open: M/T/T/F 9.15am-11.45am
Contact: Theresa Giddings, 07925 185311

Tring Stepping Stones Pre-school, Anglican Methodist Church Hall, Sutton Court, Church Yard, Tring, HP23 5HD.
Open: Tues-Fri 9.20am-11.50am
Contact: Julia Orme, 07963 982576

Wiggington Pre-school, The Village Hall, Chesham Road, Wigginton, Herts, HP23 6EH.
Open: Tues-Fri 9.30am-12pm
Contact: Becky Sawer/Sue Stebbings, 01442 828879

Aldbury Pre-school, Aldbury Club House, Toms Hill Road, Aldbury, Tring, HP23 5SA.
Open: Mon-Fri 9.00am-12pm
Lunch Club available every day until 1pm.
Contact: Emily Short, 07720535480
Email: aldburypreschool@live.co.uk
Web: www.aldburypreschool.webs.com

Childcare Costs

Remember

Families can get help with the costs of childcare, so costs indicated here may not be what you actually have to pay

Three and four year olds are entitled to a minimum of 15 hours of free learning per week for 38 weeks of the year in nurseries, pre-schools, schools, playgroups and with some childminders.

Sure Start Children’s Centres: Many services are free. You’ll have to pay for childcare, but there’s support through tax credits for those who are eligible.
Day nurseries: Contact each setting, prices will vary.
Private and independent nursery schools: Costs are per term, and vary from school to school.
Pre-schools and playgroups: Costs tend to be charged per session, and vary from each pre-school.
Childminders: Usually charge per hour – price will vary.
Nannies: Costs vary, and you may have to pay your nanny’s tax and National Insurance.

FREE childcare places

Every three and four year old is entitled to 15 hours of free early learning per week, for at least 38 weeks of the year.

These sessions are available in Ofsted registered Sure Start Children’s Centres, nurseries, pre-schools and with some registered childminders as well as at some private nursery schools. You can use these places to take a break, even if you are not working or training.

There are also some free targeted early education places for two year olds in all parts of the country. To see what places are available in your area, contact your local Families Information Service (FIS) on 0300 123 4052.

Help with costs

Tax credits

Families who are in work and who pay for Ofsted-registered childcare can get financial help with those costs through tax credits. Depending on your household income, tax credits can give you back up to 80 percent of your childcare costs, up to a maximum cost of £175 a week for one child and £300 a week for two or more children.. It’s worth checking out with HM revenue and Customs (HMRC) or with your local Families Information Service www.hertsdirect.gov.uk/fsd.

Childcare vouchers

Some employers offer childcare vouchers or ‘salary sacrifice’ where you offer up to part of your salary in return for help with the cost of childcare. These schemes give you the first £55 a week of vouchers free from tax and National Insurance. Some families will be able to get tax credits as well as vouchers. Check it out with HMRC and see how much you could get.

How do I claim tax credits?

Call the HM Revenue & customs (HMRC) Tax Credit Helpline on 0845 300 3900 (open 8am – 8pm seven days a week) or online at www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/calculator can help you find out how much you may be able to claim.

Help from your employer

As well as all the high quality childcare arrangements that are on offer, if your child is 16 or under (17 or under if disabled) and you’ve worked for your employer for at least 26 weeks, then you’ve entitled to ask for flexible working.

Flexible working is designed to help you cope with your family responsibilities. It can include options such as flexi-time, homeworking, job sharing and compressed hours, and is built around your own needs.

If you’re entitled to make the request then your boss will have to consider it, and can only say no if there’s a clear business reason, which must be given in writing. These days most employers recognise that flexible working for staff makes good business sense.