How to Find Childcare in the UK

At My Ohana, we operate a number of nurseries and workplace creches across the UK, caring for babies and toddlers as they develop their own personalities and discover more about the world around them.

We also offer a holiday club for working parents who need support with childcare during the school holidays, working solely with businesses that want to help their employees to juggle time at work with childcare.

But more on holiday club in a moment.

First, let’s get back to that all-important decision facing parents with nursery-age children…

In short, there is no right or wrong time to start sending a child to nursery. The best nurseries will manage different spaces for different age groups, with sessions and visits available for families who want to get to know the setting before fully enrolling into the nursery. This ensures flexibility and gives families the support they need – when they need it.

Having said that, availability remains a major topic of conversation across nurseries in the UK – with parents needing to sign up months before the intended start date for their child. If you know when you want your child to start nursery, it’s important to contact the nursery early to avoid disappointment.

When looking for the right childcare option for you and your child, budget and cost becomes a major topic of conversation.

The rollout of the government-funded hours aims to make childcare more accessible to all parents – with the increasing levels of support expanding to encompass younger children and thereby help more parents to get back to work.

These funded hours can be applied for remotely via online platforms, with the government code required by your childcare setting so that they can claim the expenses. Before confirming your child’s place in any childcare setting, make sure that they accept these funded hours.

Nursery may be one of the most popular childcare solutions, bridging learning and play with socialisation and early developmental skills, but it is by no means the only option available to you.

Childminders tend to operate locally and on a smaller scale, while creches are most likely to be found in workplaces and commercial settings and operate within sometimes limited hours and sessions.

Our workplace branch offers both creches and holiday clubs to employers who want to support their employees’ family life and make juggling work and childcare easier. At My Ohana, we operate a number of children's creche facilities for businesses including Third Space Islington and a global Swedish-born retailer, as well as offering care facilities in private golf clubs and even the Scottish Parliament. Big or small, we support businesses and enterprises in running their own childcare with the confidence and security of a My Ohana partnership, or by fully operating the creche on their behalf.

Whatever your childcare needs, no matter how old your child, and whatever your individual circumstances, there is a solution for you. At My Ohana, we strive to make our childcare as accessible as possible, supporting the funded hours initiative and offering both private and workplace childcare for children of all ages.

Get in touch with us directly or reach out to your local nursery or childcare provider to find out more.