Childcare

This page will help you decide which type of provider is best suited to your child and family’s needs.

The settings listed on this page are known as the ‘Tameside Directory of Providers’ and all schools and ‘providers’ are inspected by OFSTED. They have all made a commitment to the Council's terms and conditions of funding for delivery of free early education and childcare for children aged from 9 months to 4 years old.

All providers are eligible to deliver free early years provision to 3 and 4 year olds however not all childcare providers can take children for a free under 2 year old and 2 year old place, and we have highlighted those that can by indicating a Y by the childcare provider.

Types of Providers

• Childminders
• Independent schools
• Private day nurseries
• Pre-schools/playgroups
• School Nurseries

Early Years Education in Schools with a nursery class

Admissions to nursery classes in schools are usually each September. To start in September your child needs to be three years old before September 1st; if the nursery has vacancies, they may also admit children at other points during the school year. Children usually attend Monday to Friday; each school will determine how they will deliver the 15 or 30 hours as this could vary from school to school.

If you would like an early years place for your child in a school nursery class please contact the school directly, the Headteacher of the school manages admissions to nursery class.

Please note, if your child will be starting at a school nursery in the autumn term, due to the high numbers of new children starting at one time, some schools may take a phased approach to entry, which allows children to settle.

More information for parents can be found in Admission into nursery classes in Tameside

Key

• RC = Roman Catholic
• VC = Voluntary Controlled
• CE = Church of England
• VA = Voluntary Aided
• AC = Academy

Voluntary aided (church) schools have denominational criteria for admission into school. However, the nursery classes at these schools may have places for children of other denominations.

Early Years Education in Other Settings

For information about admission to other types of early years provider, please contact the provider directly using the Free Entitlement Funding  ‘Tameside Directory of Providers’.  

For further help in finding a provider in your area, please contact Family Information Service on 0161 342 4260.

Ensuring Quality and Consistency 

Tameside Council has an Early Years Quality Improvement Team who are experienced early years professionals.  Their role is to provide support, advice, guidance, and training for all childcare providers and settings across the local authority who provide Early Years Foundation Stage education. If you choose a provider from ‘Tameside’s Directory of Providers’, the work of the Early Years Quality Improvement Team promotes consistency across the borough in the quality of care and education your child will receive whilst promoting inclusive care, learning and play.

Benefits of Taking up the Free Offer of Early Years Provision

Research has shown that children who receive good quality pre-school education acquire the skills they need to make good progress at school. They gain the social and communication skills required to become confident and happy learners.

Early years provision is part of the Early Years Foundation Stage of education. It is an exciting time for children as they learn through play based activities to become more independent and develop their own identity. Your child will enjoy a curriculum that is organised around seven areas of learning:

• Communication and Language
• Physical development
• Personal, social and emotional development
• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding of the world
• Expressive arts and design

Things to Consider 

The most important decision is to choose the type of setting that will best meet the particular needs of your child and your family. When choosing a setting consider the following:

• What type of setting is best suited to your child’s personality?
• If required, is there any additional childcare offered by the provider?

What is the quality of the setting/provider? Use the check list below to help you make your decision when you visit a setting or childminder:

• Are adults interacting/playing with children?
• Does the setting/childminder have awards displayed for healthy eating?
• Are the toys clean and well maintained?
• Are children settled and occupied?
• Is there an outdoor play area?
• Are you greeted and made to feel welcome?
• Is your child greeted and made to feel welcome?
• Are you given a welcome pack or other information about the setting?
• Does the setting/childminder have any quality assurance awards?

Many of the settings listed below provide or have access to additional services which enable children to receive care for longer periods of time. Examples of this are:

• A childminder could collect your child from a group setting and provide extended care during the day.
• A day nursery could provide care all day or for a full morning or afternoon session.
• Some pre-schools and nursery classes offer extended sessions which sometimes include lunch.

Many parents benefit from this combination of education and care as it enables them to work, study or train knowing that their children are being cared for in a suitable environment.

If you are working or considering taking up work and would like to know more about the settings that can offer additional services contact Tameside Families Information Service who can:

• Discuss the childcare options available.
• Provide information about the cost of additional care.
• Look at any funding you may be entitled to, to pay for any additional costs.
• Signpost to relevant agencies / websites who can support families with more in-depth individual advice
• Answer any questions you have about this information

Free Entitlement Funding – Directory of Providers 

For a full list of providers who are eligible to deliver Free Entitlement Funding, and the type of provision they can offer, please click here (PDF)