If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@emergencychildcare.co.uk or call 0845 676 7699.
Service
What is Emergency Childcare?
Why would I need it?
How does it work?
Is there a registration charge?
Childcare Providers
How can I be assured of the quality?
What's the latest time I can book?
How do I know the childcarers have enough info?
What if my child is ill?
What if my child needs specific medication?
What if my child has problems settling in?
When making a nanny booking, how can I...?
Costs
What are the daily rates?
Are there any additional costs?
What if I need to cancel my booking?
Can I use my childcare vouchers?
Is my payment secure?
What is Emergency Childcare?
Emergency Childcare (www.emergencychildcare.co.uk) allows you to book an emergency childminder, an emergency nanny or an emergency nursery place for your child(ren) when your regular childcare has broken down.
Childcare services can be booked for whenever you need back up care - today, tomorrow or in 3 months time on a day-at-a-time basis. You can book a nursery place as late as 30 minutes before the nursery opens, as long as there is availability. Childminders need minimum 1 hour's notice, and nanny agencies 2 hours. The minimum booking time for childminders/nannies is 4 hours.
Childminders and nurseries update their own spaces, so you'll immediately be able to see if places are available. Emergency nannies are sourced via our collaboration with reputable nanny agencies nationwide. Once you make a booking your local branch (based on the postcode you enter when registering) will be immediately informed and one of their consultants will recruit you an appropriate nanny for your requirements.
If there's a local nursery or childminder you would like to be able to use, please email info@emergencychildcare.co.uk and we'll contact them on your behalf.
Why would I need to use the service?
Whether it's a last minute panic booking or a pre-emptive solution booked well in advance, we provide the choices parents need. Whichever childcare option you choose, you can be confident that your child is in the best possible hands. There is currently no other comparable service in the UK.
How does the service work?
First you need to register. Our form is detailed, but easy to complete and contains all the relevant information on your child(ren). This ensures the emergency childcarer you book has all of the details they need to provide the highest level of care. You only need to register once at the start of the service.
Once your registration is complete, you can book the childcare you require. We strongly recommend that you take the time to register prior to needing the service - this allows you time to investigate the different options available to you so you feel comfortable with the provision should you experience a childcare breakdown.
Is there a registration charge?
There is a £50 fee* which is to be paid at the end of registration, or before your first booking. We pride ourselves on always being on hand to answer any questions or concerns you may have regarding our service. This charge allows us to provide a high level of personal service to you.
After registering you'll receive a 'Parent Pack' in the post, and if you choose to, receive a phone call from one of the team. The 'Parent Pack' includes details of the closest childcare to you, a hardcopy of your registration form as well as other bits of information which will help bookings go as smoothly as possible.
* N.B. We work with many companies that help their employees with their childcare costs. If your employer does not offer our Emergency Childcare service currently, please feel free to pass on our details to HR.
How can I be assured of the quality of the childcare?
The quality of the childcare we offer is paramount and that is why:
- All our nurseries are Ofsted registered (with at least a "satisfactory" grade)
- All of our childminders in England and Wales are certified members of the NCMA (National Childminding Association) and Ofsted/CSSIW registered, all of our Scottish childminders are verified members of the SCMA and are regulated by the Care Commission, and
- All the nannies we use are over 21, qualified, CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) checked, have a first aid certificate, fully referenced and interviewed. We make sure only the highest standard of childcare is available via our service.
What's the latest time I can book for that day?
You can book a nursery place as late as 30 minutes before a nursery opens, as long as there is availability. Childminders need 1 hour's notice, and will accept bookings as short as 4 hours. The nanny agencies we work with endeavour to get you a nanny within 2 hours and minimum booking time is 4 hours.
How do I know that the childcarer has all the information they need?
Whilst developing the registration form, Emergency Childcare worked very closely with a number of leading nurseries, the NCMA, SCMA and Ofsted to ensure all the correct information is collected. The childcarer you book will receive this information.
Even so, if there is time before the booking commences, the nursery manager / childminder / nanny agency will take the time answer any questions you might have and gather any further information about your child you deem relevant.
What if my child is ill?
If your child is ill and unable to attend their regular nursery or childminder, we do ask that you inform us when booking an emergency nanny of any illnesses. In particular we require you to disclose if a child has a contagious illness, such as chicken pox, impetigo, hand foot and mouth, norovirus etc.
The nanny agencies we work with need to know of any illnesses that can be passed on very quickly to a childcarer, and hence onto any children that the carer may look after when not doing that emergency booking. This information helps us to find the appropriate nanny to meet your needs. If a parent does not disclose a contagious illness and it is discovered when the emergency nanny arrives for the booking, the nanny can refuse to accept the booking.
For further information read our: child illness guide.
What if my child needs specific medication?
All information regarding illnesses and medication should be recorded in the relevant sections on the registration form. This information is passed on to the emergency childminder or nursery as soon as you've booked. Your local nanny branch consultant, who will deal with your emergency nanny requests, will also forward all information. We do recommend that you talk through your child's requirements prior to booking. For emergency nannies it is also advisable to print your registration form in order to keep a copy at home when and if needed.
What if my child has a problem settling in at a nursery/childminder?
All of the nursery nurses and childminders involved in Emergency Childcare are highly trained and experienced carers. If, in their professional opinion, your child isn't settling in they will contact you and arrange pick up arrangements. Under these circumstances 50% of your booking fee will be refunded to you.
When making a nanny booking, how can I...?
- How can I get a nanny to stay later if needed?
Book the maximum period of cover you think you will need, at the time of making a booking. (A nanny will be sourced to provide cover for those specified hours, and it might not always be possible to extend them once the booking has commenced)
- How can I make a same day Nanny booking?
We aim to be able to provide you with a suitable nanny within 2 hours from booking during normal working hours (7:30am - 5:30pm). Therefore the earliest a nanny could reach your home for a booking made at 7.30am would be 9.30am. However please bear in mind that availability in your area and travelling times could affect this.
Outside normal working hours, you're unable to make same day nanny bookings as nanny agencies are closed after 5.30pm
- How can I make a same day 'evening booking' for a Nanny?
You can make a nanny booking up to 5.30pm for evening care. We aim to provide a nanny within 2 hours. Please be aware that as much notice as possible enables us to maximise our search
- How can I make an 'overnight' Nanny booking?
Should you think you might need an overnight carer, please give us as much notice as possible. Many nanny agencies can provide overnight cover however this depends on the availability of the carers.
Alternatively, some childminders do provide overnight care, so we recommend you research childminders in your area and take the time to visit them so that you feel comfortable leaving your child in their care, should you need to.
What are the daily nursery prices or nanny / childminding rates in UK?
Each nursery and childminder sets their own prices for nursery places, and so the price will vary depending on who you decide to book with. Nursery spaces tend to be in the region of £60 a day and a childminder approximately £6 or £7 per hour. The cost of emergency nannies also varies by region but expect to pay around £16 an hour excluding VAT.
Are there any additional costs?
In order to continue providing a quality service, with access to emergency nurseries, childminders and nannies, we do add a 5% fee to bookings. Our booking fee will be applied to the whole booking and shown clearly at the confirmation stage.
What if I need to cancel my booking?
To cancel your booking, please contact the team on help@myfamilycare.co.uk or call 0845 676 7699.
If you cancel within 2 working days, you will incur the following charges:
- Nanny Booking – 4 hours (+ VAT)
- Nursery Booking - £25 per day
- Childminder Booking – 100% of the fee (max £100).
In order to obtain a full refund, you need to cancel your booking with at least 2 working days' notice.
Can I use my childcare vouchers to pay for childcare?
You can pay for nursery spaces with your childcare vouchers via Emergency Childcare.
We work with the main childcare voucher providers. If you have the following vouchers you can use them to pay for nursery spaces: Accor Services, Allsave, care-4, My Family Care Vouchers, and Sodexho Pass.
Visit www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/childcare for more information.
Is my payment secure?
Your payment is absolutely secure. We do not save card details, so you will need to re-enter them each time you make a booking. You will be able to use the same card as a previous nursery booking - the information is processed by our payment gateway Sage Pay, and we do not store the card details. Please visit www.sagepage.com for more details. My Family Care sites are PCI Compliant and our certificate can be shown on request.
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If you have any more questions, or require any further information,
please do not hesitate to contact us at info@emergencychildcare.co.uk or call 0845 676 7699.
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