Formal or official childcare
- day care for children under four years of age;
- out of school care for children aged 4-12 years, both before and after school and during school holidays;
- care in centres in which parents participate in the care, and care provided by officially registered childminders.
This article describes only day care and out of school care.
Childcare can also be arranged unofficially. This informal care includes paid or unpaid childcare at home or elsewhere not covered by the official childcare legislation; for example, paid and unpaid babysitters, and playgroups.