Daycare nurseries are suited to parents who need childcare for their under fives either full time or part time at times between 8am and 6pm all year round.

Some daycare nurseries also offer out of school childcare which is useful for working families with children of both preschool and school age.

Daycare nurseries offer children, including disabled children, the opportunity to have fun, play with other children and get ready for school. All are registered and inspected by Ofsted to deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage and have qualified staff. This is a key stage in the education process and a child’s experience at a daycare nursery will be of learning through play

• To see a copy of a daycare nursery’s latest Ofsted inspection report, ask the nursery for a copy or visit the Ofsted website (www.ofsted.gov.uk).
• For more information about the Early Years Foundation Stage visit the standards pages on the Department for Children, Schools and Families website (www.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/eyfs)

Baby places at nurseries in Swindon are limited. Parents are advised to plan their childcare arrangements well ahead of their return to work date in order to secure a place at the nursery of their choice. Nursery places for older children are generally widely available though forward planning is still advisable.

All daycare nurseries in Swindon offer funded early education for three and four year olds. In some cases this is offered alongside a package of childcare for which parents must pay. Some offer standalone funded early education sessions for parents who do not wish to pay additional charges.

Each of Swindon’s Children’s Centres has either a daycare nursery on site or can signpost parents to a nursery nearby. Parents are expected to pay for childcare at these nurseries but a Children’s Centre is able to offer families additional support to overcome obstacles if they are planning to return to work.

There are a number of workplace nurseries in Swindon including the Children’s Nursery at Swindon Borough Council. All give priority to their own workforces but will accommodate other families if places are available.

As with pre-schools where a child attends a nursery does not determine where the child will go to school in Swindon.

For a full list of daycare nurseries in Swindon, a leaflet about funded early education or information about financial help available to pay for childcare costs see the Family Information Service page.