With Sharon and I working full time, often with conflicting hours, luxuries like date nights can often sound like a thing of the past. On top of that, whilst blogging is still very much a hobby, I still need to find the time to knuckle down and do it. My days off are often reserved for this, however housework will quite often take precedence.
Whilst I wouldn’t change being a mum for the world, there have been times when we’ve wanted to be ‘wives’ again as opposed to ‘mummies’, and with no immediate or guaranteed family around, we often have to rely on other trusted sources.
Childcare.co.uk
Childcare.co.uk has been recommended to us quite a few times as the go-to place for last minute childcare. Whether you need a temporary solution for a few weeks or last minute cover, Childcare.co.uk will have what you’re looking for.
How does it work?
After completing the free registration process, you’re then invited to browse their database of childminders, babysitters, nannies and nurseries around the UK, as well as private tutors and schools! Looking again more recently, I also saw a number of midwives and Doulas as well!
The site is easy to use. Simply enter what you’re looking for and in no time you will have the choice to browse thousands of profiles.
When we found ourselves in the position of needing to find childcare for T quickly, Childcare.co.uk was the first place we visited. With two million users around the UK it gave us reassurance that this was a safe and easy way to find childcare.
Finding childcare
Searching in and around Brighton, we found hundreds of options available within a 10 mile radius, so we narrowed our criteria down to five miles and found a comfortable 50+ profiles. To filter the results down further, you can apply filters such as Childminders With a Full UK Driving License, Male Childminders, those with Flexible Hours or a Car, Weekend-Only or, likewise, After School Only.
Having this filter option is a really useful tool as it means you can get the results you need and fast. It’s evident that every thought has been taken into what parents are looking for when looking for child care.
Once you then find who you’re looking for, each profile then offers potential clients a biography, a summary of their qualifications and registrations, as well as honest reviews and ratings from previous or current clients. You also have the option to message or call the childminder for further information. There’s also often a photo of your babysitter, which offers a personal touch.
Every profile is different and can vary in length. Personally, I like quite a lengthy profile as it shows that a lot of thought has been put into reassuring the parent when it comes to what service they provide. What I also like is that their rates are included at the very start, meaning you don’t have to waste time messaging to find out what their fees are.
Topics such as what equipment they use when it comes to travel, how they communicate with parents, whether they have any pets, and what food they provide is really useful to read about early on as it means any conversations later can then be about your child(ren) and your needs.
Other benefits…
- Childcare.co.uk can also be used for child care workers to find work.
- Extra resources to help when interviewing, or what to ask potential schools, are also available.
- An easy-to-use app is also available for last minute searches on the go.
- Handy guides at the bottom of the website – ranging from ‘Childminder or Nanny?’ to contracts and payments – offer a professional touch to the Childcare.co.uk service.
Whilst we don’t expect to be going out out any time soon, it’s reassuring to know these options are available with a few clicks.
If you want to find out more, pop over to Childcare.co.uk to create a free profile now!
Feature image credit: Markus Spiske / Unsplash
