Crèches offer temporary occasional childcare for children under 8 years of age. This is while you do something nearby for example, at:
- leisure centres
- events or courses
- shopping centres
They may:
- operate for short 1 to 2 hour sessions
- be run by councils, charities or private providers
Crèches do not have to register if all the following apply:
- they look after children under 8 for 4 hours or less each day
- parents plan to stay in the immediate area (close by where you can be summoned immediately)
- there is no long-term commitment to provide childcare
- this is offered to parents or carers as a short-term convenience, for instance, while they are shopping
- they look after children under 8 from one place for 14 days or less in any year and let Ofsted know at least 14 days before
Some colleges offer childcare facilities for students. These may be called crèches but are usually registered with Ofsted as a day nursery.
If a crèche is registered as a day nursery you may be able to claim help with childcare costs if they are registered and approved for relevant schemes.