Families rely on word-of-mouth for childcare information

The charity's annual childcare awareness survey, which questioned more than 1,000 people, is designed to measure how much parents know about the different types of childcare on offer.

It found that childminders and nannies are the most recognised form of childcare, ahead of nurseries, creches and au pairs.

It also revealed that most families find out about childcare provision through word-of-mouth as opposed to advertising or government initiatives.

Of those parents who did use childminders, 95 per cent were satisfied with the care provided to their children.

Two thirds of parents who used childminders were also satisfied with the cost of their childcare, compared with just over half of parents who pay for their child to attend a nursery.

Andrew Fletcher, joint chief executive at the NCMA said that childminders provide parents with high quality, value for money childcare.

He said:"This research shows that parents are more satisfied with the quality of care registered childminders provide than any other type of childcare."

The NCMA survey has been launched to coincide with National Childminding Week, which is designed to celebrate childminding and runs from 13th to 20th June.