For details of pre-school childcare in the area contact Ofsted. As well as inspecting and registering childcare, it also maintains and distributes lists of providers, including nursery schools, day nurseries, playgroups and childminders. Similar information is also available from Kent Children's Information Service.

Full-daycare options include childminders and nursery providers. These are listed by the Children's Information Services for Kent. Nursery providers include private day nurseries or nursery schools and nursery classes attached to LEA schools. Full time provision is supplemented by providers who have facilities for 'sessions' of childcare, such as crèches, pre-school playgroups, toddler groups and out of school or holiday playschemes. All the available provision makes up a total picture from which to select the pre-school childcare which best suits your child's' needs.

Registered childminders

The National Childminding Association can be contacted for advice and also publishes a range of useful leaflets.

Nannies

There are a few private agencies in the area that can supply permanent and temporary registered childminders, nannies and mothers' helps. Alternatively, you could advertise in the domestic vacancies section of the local papers for nannies, mothers' helps or child carers.