For children aged from 3 months to 4 years, provision is largely in the private and voluntary sectors and parents pay fees.

Childminders look after children in their own home. You should check that childminders are legally registered with Ofsted (the government body responsible for inspection of childcare facilities). They usually look after up to 6 children at a time and may take children from newborn. Local Education Authorities will provide detailed information on childminders in the area.

A private day nursery provides care and education for pre-school children aged from 6 weeks to 5 years on a full or part time basis. Some nurseries also provide out of school care or a holiday scheme for older children.

Playgroups and pre-schoolsprovide early years' education for children aged between 2 and 5 years. Playgroups aim to provide learning experiences through structured play and to give children the opportunity for mixing with other children and adults. Sessions are offered in the morning or afternoon and usually last between 2 and 4 hours.

Entry to state nursery is not compulsory but usually available. Some state nurseries take children part-time from the age of 3 and full-time from the age of 4.

The University of Warwick Nursery is located on Lakeside for children aged between 3 months and 5 years. It is staffed by qualified nursery nurses. The Nursery has a dedicated baby unit for children under 2 and a larger 'pre-school' unit for 2 to 4 year olds. Demand for places is extremely high and you should make contact with the nursery as early as possible if you require a place.

There are also private childcare facilities (day nurseries, childminders, playgroups and pre-schools) available locally by private arrangement.

The University is 3 miles (5 kilometres) from Coventry city centre and on the border with Warwickshire. Both Coventry and Warwickshire have separate education authorities and departments dealing with pre-school child-care facilities.

The Coventry Family Information Directory holds an up-to-date list of all registered childcare services in Coventry.