Childminders usually offer a personal and flexible service, with fewer children per adult and a more home-like environment than a nursery. Childminders may be able to pick up school aged siblings from school, too. Unlike a nanny, you have to go to them, rather than them coming to your home, which can make a daily difference to your quality of life. Childminder costs vary but are usually cheaper than either nursery or nanny. Childminders’ sickness policies vary, with some taking in sick children and others sending them home as a nursery would.  

Childminders can be a fantastic option for families. The biggest challenge with childminders is that there aren’t nearly enough of them, and the good ones are heavily oversubscribed.