Financial support for childcare - To many parents the cost of childcare can be quite daunting, but did you know that help is available to ease the financial burden.

Free nursery places for three and four year olds in Sunderland (pdf download)
There are now free nursery places available for families living in Sunderland with children aged three and above. more information is available on the downloadable fact sheet.

Free nursery places for two-year olds (pdf download)
Sunderland City Council is also involved in an exciting national pilot scheme to provide free nursery places for two year olds. At this stage the scheme is only eligible to certain families - more detail is given in the leaflet.

To talk to someone locally about childcare tax credits and other ways you can save money, you can call the Families Information Service. Their contact details are available at the bottom of this page.

Families Information Service in Sunderland - The Families Information Service (FIS) was formed to support Childcare throughout Sunderland. The service is for parents, parents to be, carers, children and employers. The FIS aims to make it easier for parents to access the information and services they need to help with caring for their family. Through the FIS, parents can access information on:

• Ofsted registered childcare
• Choosing the right childcare, nursery or school
• Activities available for children and young people
• Further support when parents are struggling to find childcare
• The different types of support available to pay for registered childcare
• How parents can benefit from Working Tax Credits or employer supported childcare.
• Information is also available for people thinking about setting up a childcare facility, people considering a career in childcare and employers wanting to support staff with childcare costs

Early Years Foundation Stage - summary

The Early Years Foundation Stage is a framework for learning and development for children from birth to five. From September 2008 this framework has been introduced and all schools and Ofsted registered childcare will follow this.

Information leaflets

What is the FIS (pdf download)
This leaflet gives a brief overview about the FIS in Sunderland

Nursery Education in Sunderland (pdf download)
This booklet gives information about free nursery education in Sunderland, how to access it and the types of nursery providers who offer it.

Help with Childcare Costs (pdf download)
This leaflet will outline all of the support available and give details of how to get further information. All support towards childcare costs included in this leaflet will support registered or approved childcare only. This includes childcare such as daycare nurseries, childminders, out of school clubs etc. registered with Ofsted.

Childminding – is it for you? (pdf download)
This leaflet tells you about the steps you need to take to become a registered childminder.

Contact details: telephone: 0191 520 5505, e-mail: fis@sunderland.gov.uk