A directory of some of the registered childcare providers can be found on Wolverhampton Information Network (WIN).

Parents can also contact the Information for Families Service to enquire about childcare providers within their area or across the city and ask about funded places by calling 01902 554242 or emailing iff@wolverhampton.gov.uk.

They can provide information, advice and assistance to parents, carers, prospective parents and to secure sufficient childcare for working parents.

Complex enquiries will be passed onto the Early Years team, who will support families further.

A childminder is a person who looks after a child in their own home. They provide a safe and caring environment where children can play and develop life skills and may build a long-term relationship with your family, perhaps taking them to and from nursery and school as they get older. All childminders are registered by Ofsted or through a Childminding Agency that is registered with Ofsted, and trained in first aid, safeguarding and childcare practice.

Benefits include:

• flexibility
• small numbers of children
• the ability to provide a home-like environment

Childminders fees can be hourly, half day or full day depending on parent’s needs. They may also charge a deposit, retainer for holidays and for consumables. Some childminders may offer evening and weekend care. 

Are they free to attend?

Individual childminders may choose to offer funded places or not. Parents would need to check this when looking for a childminder.

A day nursery is a childcare setting that looks after children from six weeks to five years, though the exact age ranges vary from nursery to nursery. Some nurseries don't take babies or young toddlers, or they may only take children up to four years old. 

Some will also have holiday provision for children up to eight years of age. They offer year-round care and are usually open 7am – 6pm. Day nurseries will offer inclusive practice and try to meet the needs of all children. 

Staff at day nurseries are trained to develop a stimulating environment that will help your child to thrive, based on a curriculum specially designed for children under five. 

Are they free to attend?

They will offer funding for 2, 3 and 4 year olds, however parents may need to pay for meals, consumables and a refundable deposit. 

A playgroup or pre-school group is a registered childcare facility that offers sessional care - usually 2-3 hours - for children between the ages of 2-5 years. Groups are open all or several morning or afternoon sessions each week, usually in term-time only.

They may be run by a committee of parents and staffed by a qualified or experienced supervisor with assistant(s). 

Playgroups/pre-schools are required to register with Ofsted to ensure their suitability as carers of children to ensure the safety of premises and facilities. Pre-school groups will try to meet the needs of all children through inclusive practice.

Are they free to attend?

Most playgroups/ pre-schools offer funded places. However, parents will need to check this before registering for a place.

Before and after school clubs can be facilitated by a school, as part of their extended offer or run by a private provider on a school or community site, with an Ofsted registration. Most offer care for children in reception class and older, with some offering the facility to nursery aged children. Some may offer breakfast, light teas and/ or healthy snacks. Holiday playschemes are usually for children aged five and over, however, some day nurseries will offer holiday places to younger children. 

Holiday Playschemes can be Ofsted registered or may operate under the two-hour ruling, where registration is not needed. Parent will need to check the playschemes registration status as this will affect whether Tax Free Childcare can be used. Ofsted registered provision will have to meet the regulations set by Ofsted, e.g, staffing.

To see details about nursery provision, visit Schools Lists.

These free, Stay and Play sessions are supervised by local authority staff. The majority of sessions are held within Family Hubs situated across the city, with some being held in other local authority buildings, such as libraries.

These sessions are open to all families and allow children to explore and learn through play. Activities are designed to support and extend children’s development and can easily be replicated in the home environment.

Due to demand of places for these sessions, it is advised that no more than one adult per child attends. Children will be offered healthy snacks during the session. To see details about this visit Family Hubs.

To meet statutory duty Wolverhampton produce an annual Childcare Sufficiency Assessment. This document contains information on childcare providers across the city, the cost of childcare, the take-up of entitlements, types of provision in locality areas, support available to the childcare sector and Local Authority plans for the next twelve months. The CSA can be used by;

Parents: 

• To find local childcare providers
• To see what the average cost of care is within the city.
• What support is offered and future Local Authority plans

For more information about CSA's please visit Childcare Sufficiency Assessment.