Nursery vs childminder vs nanny

In England, most families choose between three kinds of care for children under school age: a nursery (including pre-schools), a registered childminder, or a nanny. Which is right depends on your hours, your budget, how many children you have and what kind of setting suits your child.

At a glance

Nurseries and pre-schools

Good for: families who want a structured setting, lots of other children, a team of staff and reliable opening hours.

Day nurseries open for a full working day, usually all year. Sessional pre-schools run shorter sessions, often in term time only. Both must follow the EYFS and meet the legal staff ratios. Because there are several staff, the nursery stays open when one person is ill. The trade-offs are less flexibility (fixed opening times, set days and late pick-up fees) and, for babies, a busier environment.

Most nurseries offer funded hours, though how they use them varies: some stretch them across the year, some charge for meals or consumables on top. See what funded hours really cover.

Childminders

Good for: babies and toddlers who do well in a home setting, siblings who want to stay together, and parents who need some flexibility.

A childminder looks after a small group of children of mixed ages, usually in their own home, often with school pick-ups as well. They are registered and inspected by Ofsted and follow the EYFS, with their own limits on how many children and babies they can care for. Many offer funded hours and accept Tax-Free Childcare. Some work with an assistant.

The main risk is cover: if your childminder is ill or on holiday you may need a back-up plan. Ask how they handle it.

Nannies

Good for: long or irregular hours, families with two or more young children, and children who need to be at home.

A nanny looks after your children in your home and can usually fit around your working pattern. Nannies do not have to register with Ofsted. If you employ one directly, you are usually their employer, which means payroll, tax, National Insurance, holiday pay and a workplace pension; many families use a payroll service. You can only pay a nanny through Tax-Free Childcare if they are registered, and funded hours normally cannot be used. Some families share a nanny with another family to split the cost.

How to weigh up cost

For one child, a nursery or childminder is usually the cheaper option, especially once funded hours start. For two or more children under school age, the gap narrows because a nanny is one wage for the whole family. Use our childcare cost calculator for a nursery or childminder, and remember to add employer costs when pricing a nanny. Tax-Free Childcare and, if you claim it, Universal Credit childcare can help with any registered option.

Mixing and matching

Many families combine options: a childminder for a baby, moving to a nursery or pre-school at 2 or 3; or nursery during the day and a nanny for early starts. Funded hours can often be split between two providers. Whatever you choose, read the latest Ofsted report and visit with our visit checklist.