Care for pre-school aged children in the UK can be expensive and should be researched before your arrive.
Bristol City Council provide information on pre-school and childcare facilities within Bristol and offer helpful advice for parents. Another helpful website for finding care for young children is ChildcareLink.
Childminders offer childcare in their own homes. They must be registered by the Bristol City Council Children's and Young People's Services who ensure that their homes are safe and that the Childminder is in good health and suitable for the job.
These groups generally operate once or twice a week, and parents may go along with children under the age of three years. Parents must stay with their children and be responsible for them. The groups are an excellent way of meeting other parents, and are well provided with toys for the children. Bristol City Council have a local organisation list which holds information on Parent and Toddler Groups.
Playgroups exist to give pre-school children opportunities for constructive play activities and socialising with other children. Children can normally attend from the age of three years. Groups are run by qualified play leaders and administered by a committee of parents. They usually operate for two to three hours a day, morning or afternoon.
There are a number of private nurseries registered by the Bristol City Council Children's and Young People's Services according to rigorous standards for staffing ratios and facilities. Always make sure you check that the provider is registered by asking to see the registration certificate.
The University day nursery accommodates children of students and staff between 3 months and 5 years. Spaces are extremely limited. Visit the University day nursery website for further information, fees and an application form.
For more information about the University's policy with respect to parents and carers, you can visit the University's Positive Working Environment website.
Ofsted, the inspectorate for children and learners in England, offers inspection reports for childminders and day care providers in Bristol. You can search by postcode for childcare options near you and read reports on those facilities.
You may be entitled to claim child benefit if:
Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
You generally cannot claim child benefit if you are subject to immigration control. You are subject to immigration control if the leave to remain in your passport is on condition you have no recourse to public funds, including those in the UK on a work permit.
You are also always welcome to contact the International Staff Adviser for further help or information:
Email: international-staff@bristol.ac.uk
Tel: 0117 954 5790