Finding the right person to care for your child is probably one of the most difficult decisions you will ever have to make. Choosing a nursery, nanny or childminder needs to be well researched in order to select the right type of childcare to meet your own individual needs. Good childcare places are often booked months in advance, so you'll need to prepare well ahead to ensure you won't want to have to settle for second best when making this important decision.This book looks at the most popular types of childcare available and weighs up the advantages and disadvantages of each to help you to decide which service suits you best. It will help you to: decide what kind of childcare you require; ensure that the relationship between the child and the carer and you and the carer work well; know what to expect from your childminder in terms of play and educational activities; know what to do when either your child or the carer is ill; understand the childcare contract; and know what to do when things go wrong. Plus there are important questions to ask to help you to choose the right childcare for you and your child. AUTHOR BIOG: Allison Lee has worked as childminder herself for over 12 years and is now employed by her local authority as a support childminder giving help and advice to other practitioners. Allison has also written several childcare courses, all of which she tutors. She is the author of Starting Your Own Childminding Business and The Childminder's Companion.