Bestbear.co.uk recommended sites
PARENTING SITES
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smallfolk.com: | Run in conjunction with Great Ormond Street hospital, Smallfolk's online experts offer information on child health and development, education, legal advice, psychology and psychiatry. A percentage of their profit goes to GOSH Children's Charity. |
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mumsnet.com: | A brilliant site set up by mums to pool parental know-how. mumsnet have a loyal online community who send in their own reviews of products from prams to kid's holidays. A type of "Which" for parents, written and edited by mums. |
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Flametree.co.uk: | For busy women trying to juggle home lives and a career. Well researched information and advice on making the most cost-effective use of your time, and making the most of your potential. |
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Families Magazine |
The site for the great free local Families newsletters which cover London and Edinburgh. Edited by parents it is a brilliant source of local info on health, schools, nurseries, nanny agencies, playgroups, etc. |
Do you have a site that you would like to recommend? Lets us know on feedback@bestbear.co.uk
CHILDCARE AND PARENTING ORGANISATIONS
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CACHE (Council for Awards in Children's Care
and Education) Tel: 01727 867 333 www.cache.org.uk. |
The main awarding body in children's care and education and in playwork. CACHE writes and assesses training courses and accredits childcarer's competence in their workplace. Recently merged with National Association for Maternal and Child Welfare (NAMCW) |
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ChildcareLink Tel: 08000 96 02 96 Email: childcarelink@opp-links.org.uk www.childcarelink.gov.uk |
A surprisingly good site from the government Childcare Link carries listings of childminders, playgroups, kid's clubs, nursery schools and day nurseries in your local area. Or call them for local info on services and factsheets on childcare options. |
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Daycare Trust Tel: 0171 739 2866 Email: daycaretrust@pop3.poptel.org.uk www.daycaretrust.org.uk |
A national childcare charity promoting high quality affordable childcare. They co-ordinate the annual National Childcare Week and offer a childcare consultancy service to employers. |
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Department for Education & Employment |
Offers info on Government policy re: free nursery places for 3 - 4 year olds. Contact your local authority's early years and development department for info on childcare planning and policy. |
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DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) Tel: 020 72155000 Email: steve.keeler@dti.gsi.gov.uk www.dti.gov.uk |
The DTI offer a free and confidential complaints service about childcare agency conduct. It investigates complaints made by families or nannies. |
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Home Office Immigration and Nationality Dept Tel: 0870 6067766 www.homeoffice.gov.uk |
For info on regulations concerning employing au pairs who are non-EU nationals |
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Kids' Clubs Network Tel: 020 7512 2100 www.kidsclubs.co.uk |
A brilliant voluntary organisation providing information on out of school clubs throughout the UK and advice how to set them up. |
 NANNYTAX |
Nannytax Tel: 01273 626256 Email: mailbox@nannytax.co.uk www.nannytax.co.uk |
The UK's leading Payroll Service for Employers of Nannies
If you employ a Nanny you are required by law to keep a payroll record and to pay regular Income Tax, National Insurance Contributions and Employer's National Insurance Contributions. You must also provide an annual summary of all these deductions and payments. Nannytax can take care of the lot. |
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National Childminding Association Tel: 020 8464 6164 Email: natcma@netcomuk.co.uk www.ncma.org.uk |
NCMA promotes quality registered childminding so that children, families and communities can benefit from the best in childcare and education. |
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THE NORLAND COLLEGE Tel: 01488 682252 Email: mail@norland.co.uk www.norland.co.uk |
With their distinctive brown uniforms Norland is the
most well-known and respected training college for nannies. Training provides both nationally accredited vocational qualification and the opportunity to gain practical experience working with children on site nurseries and classes. |
| Northern Ireland Childminding Association Tel: 028 9181 1015 (website launches in 2 weeks, address TBA) |
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PANN (The Professional Association of Nursery Nurses) |
The only union caring for childcarers. Members include nursery nurses, nannies and classroom assistants. PANN works to promote the best possible practice in childcare and campaigns nationally on childcare issues. Members are offered free help and advice on practice, pay and conditions. PANN is a section of PAT (Professional Association of Teachers) |
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The Parent Company |
The Parent Company specialises in bite-size evening seminars on parenting related topics. They also take seminars to the workplace to help companies "support their corporate jugglers with demanding work and home lives". Seminars cost £45 per person and cover topics such as "Success with a Nanny". |
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Parent Talk Tel: 020 7450 9072/3 www.parentalk.co.uk |
A charitable organisation designed to give groups of parents the opportunity to share their experiences and learn from each other in video-led parenting courses. |
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Pre-School Learning Alliance Tel: 020 7833 0991 Email: pla@pre-school.org.uk www.pre-school.org.uk |
A national education charity specialising in pre-school education and care. At local level they offer a range of pre-school learning training courses for parents, staff and volunteers. |
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(REC) Recruitment & Employment Confederation Tel: 020 7323 4300 / 01483 766442 www.rec.uk.com |
REC is an organisation "championing providers of
recruitment solutions" . They offer a code of good practice for
recruitment agencies and many childcare agencies are members (you
can find a list of member nanny and au pair agencies on their site) REC members are subject to their complaints and disciplinary procedures. |
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St John Ambulance Tel: 0207235 5231 Email: info@stjohnambulance.com www.stjohnambulance.com |
Run First Aid Courses all over the country including a 4 hour course specifically for treating babies and children. They also sell a "Breath of Life" video giving a step-by-step demonstration of infant and child resuscitation. |
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Scottish Childminding Association |
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