Find childcare services and information on what help there is with childcare costs

Search the directory to find childcare services

Visit our free childcare for 2, 3 and 4 year olds web page for information on:

• The eligibility criteria for the 2 year old funding 
• How to apply 
• When your child can start recieving the 3 and 4 year old entitlement

Visit the Governments Childcare Choices website to find out what help there is with childcare costs:

• Find the right offer for you
• Using childcare schemes together
• How to apply for 30 hours free childcare
• How to use Tax-Free Childcare
• Information for Childcare providers

The Coram Family and Childcare website also has a guide to help with my childcare costs.

Visit the Coram Family and Childcare website to find guides on:

• Different types of childcare available
• Five steps to choosing childcare
• Help with my childcare costs
• Guide to childcare for children with SEND
• Childcare stories from families with children with SEND

The Wokingham Borough Local Offer

Visit our SEND Local Offer section of our website for information on the services in the Wokingham Borough that are available for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and their families.

Further information can also be found on the: 

• Support for pre school children web page
• Each pre school and nursery Local Offer
• The Ordinarily Available Provision guidance document - This describes the provision that should be ordinarily available in mainstream early years settings, go to the I think my child might have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) web page to read the document.

The UK Government website has a section specifically to help if you have a disabled child.

Childminders look after children in the childminder's own home. They can often be flexible about the hours they work and most will drop off or pick up children from local schools, pre-schools and nurseries. They can take the children in their care to local parks, playgrounds, parent and toddler groups and libraries.

To find information on choosing and paying for childcare visit the Family and Childcare Trust website and the government childcare choices website.

Registration and inspection

Childminders who look after children under 8 for a total of more than 2 hours per day and for any form of reward must by law be registered with the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted). 

Ofsted offers reassurance to parents by ensuring children are safe, well cared for and that they make good progress in their learning and development.

Ofsted carry out regular inspections of childminders.

• You can find inspection reports on the Ofsted website
• These can be searched for by using either the childminder’s Ofsted number or their name
• You can find each childminder's Ofsted unique reference number on their listing

Before a childminder is registered to look after children Ofsted will usually interview them and inspect their home. This is known as a registration visit. An inspection, which will include a published inspection report, can happen any time up to 30 months after a childminder is first registered.

Day nurseries

Day nurseries can care for children normally from around 3 months up until compulsory school age. Most offer care throughout the day, from around 8am until 6pm and are often open all year round, including during school holidays.

You can find a list of all the day nurseries in the borough by searching the childcare section of the directory.

Pre schools

Pre schools are often run by a voluntary committee. Normally they care for children from 3 years old, up until compulsory school age although some now care for children from 2 years old. 

Most offer care in 'sessions', often of 3 hours, for example 9am until 12 midday. In most cases pre schools follow the same terms as state schools, meaning they're usually not open during the schools holidays.

A lot of pre schools have lunch and breakfast clubs which means if there are spaces your child can attend for the equivalent of a school day.

Each pre school sets its own admissions policy. 

Find a list of pre schools in the borough by searching the childcare section of the directory.

Nursery classes and foundation units

Some schools have what's known as a nursery class or foundation unit. Like pre schools, most offer care in 'sessions', often of 3 hours, for example 9am until 12 midday. In most cases they follow the same terms as state schools, meaning they're usually not open during the schools holidays.

Some have lunch and breakfast clubs which means if there are spaces your child can attend for the equivalent of a school day. 

Find a list of all the nursery classes in the borough by searching the childcare section of the directory.

Admission arrangements

To find out more go to the school admissions section of our website.

Transferring to school

It's important to remember that there is no automatic transfer from a school's nursery class to the school itself - you still need to apply to the school when your child is old enough.

Early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework

This sets the standards that all providers must meet to ensure children learn and develop, and are kept healthy and safe. 

The teaching and learning children receive helps make sure they are ready for school and gives them the foundation to progress through school and life.

Read the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework (PDF document) to find out more

The Early Years, Childcare and Play in Wokingham hub provide advice and support for parents on childcare and supporting your child's development.

If your child is in receipt of benefit related free school meals (FSM) then you can register your interest in our Holiday, Activities, and Food (HAF) programme.

This programme is funded by the Department for Education (DFE) and provides free activities with a healthy meal to children and young people aged 4-16 years.

Further information and to register your child(ren) go to our Holiday Activities Programme registration web page.