Vetted childcare · London & South East

Good childcare is never one person

We place vetted childcare professionals with families, nurseries and schools across London, Essex, Hertfordshire, Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Kent, and keep everyone part of a village that looks out for each other.

Trusted babysitters, nannies and SEND specialists for families, nurseries and schools. Every professional is checked, matched with care and supported by our team.

Join the waitlist I'm a professional

Covering London, Essex, Hertfordshire, Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Kent.

Enhanced DBS on every placement
  • Enhanced DBS check
    Checked before anyone is put forward to you.
  • Two verified references
    Taken up for every professional.
  • ID and right to work
    Verified before an introduction.
  • Interviewed by our team
    Experience and qualifications reviewed.

Three ways in. One standard.

Families

Babysitters, nannies and SEND support, matched to your child's needs and personality, not just who happens to be free.

Tell us what you need →

Professionals

Steady work, pay you can see before you accept, and a team behind you rather than a shift app.

Join the Village →

Nurseries and schools

Cover and permanent recruitment, with every practitioner's checks documented and shared with you.

Staffing for your setting →

Childcare that develops, not just supervises.

Anyone can watch a child. The professionals we place bring a real skill into every booking, chosen to match what your child already loves.

Baking

Early maths, patience and pride in making something.

Arts and crafts

Creativity, fine motor skills and big ideas.

Sensory and messy play

Focus, calm and early development.

Gardening and nature

Curiosity, patience and time outdoors.

Stories and phonics

A love of books and a head start for school.

You choose who comes

We send you profiles of professionals who could suit your family, and you choose who you would like to go ahead with. You can meet them first over a video call, if you wish.

  • Profiles with experience, skills and checks
  • A video call before you decide, if you wish
  • Your rate confirmed before you pay
See how it works

If your child has additional needs, start here.

You have probably had to explain your child to a stranger more times than you should have. We ask first, we write it down, and we only put forward professionals with the right experience.

  • Matching that starts from your child's needs, not our availability
  • Makaton and other communication support where it is needed
  • A dedicated SEND team you can talk to
More about SEND supportFind your council's Local Offer

Launching soon

Your village is almost here. Join the waitlist.

Tell us what you need and we will be in touch the moment we launch near you.

£3OFF

Founding family perks

First access when we launch in your area, plus £3 off every booking for your first three months with us.

  • Enhanced DBS-checked
  • Hand-matched to you
  • Ages 0 to 16

Launching in London, Essex, Hertfordshire, Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Kent.

We will only use your details to contact you about launching near you. All placements are subject to enhanced DBS and reference checks.

Little Village Co — The Village Way

Frequently asked questions

Straight answers for families, professionals, and nurseries and schools.

For families SEND and additional needs For childcare professionals For nurseries and schools

For families

How do I book?
Join the waitlist or send us an enquiry with your dates, times and your children's ages. We contact you to talk it through, then check availability with the right professional or professionals. Once your booking is confirmed, you will receive a booking confirmation and a secure payment link.
How much does it cost?
Care starts from £20.50 an hour, plus a £3 booking fee. The exact hourly rate depends on the level of care and is confirmed before you pay, so there are no surprises. We have a three-hour minimum booking.
What do Standard, Experienced and Specialist mean?
Standard: professionals with 1 to 2 years' experience, apprentices, or those with previous nursery or primary school experience.

Experienced: professionals who are Level 2 or 3 qualified, with 2 to 5 years' experience in an early years or school setting.

Specialist: professionals who are Level 3 qualified with 6 or more years' experience, and who specialise further, for example in SEN, speech and language, sleep or behaviour. Some have nursery or school management experience or a teaching degree.
How much do siblings cost?
Your eldest child is charged at the full hourly rate and each additional child at half the hourly rate. One professional can look after up to three children at a time. For four or more children we would arrange a second professional.
When and how do I pay?
Once your booking is confirmed, you pay through a secure payment link from our bank, Monzo Business. It is a bank payment, so you do not enter card details with us, and we never store your payment details.
How are your professionals checked?
Every professional goes through the same steps: an application, an interview, references, then right-to-work, Enhanced DBS and certificate checks. They are only booked with a family once these are complete. We also have a written Safeguarding Policy, which we send to every family with their booking confirmation.
How do you keep an eye on quality?
We carry out welfare and safeguarding check-ins during and after bookings, by phone or video as standard. We also make in-person visits in some situations, such as a professional's first bookings, SEND and more complex placements, following up a concern, and random spot-checks.
What happens if I need to cancel?
Please tell us as early as you can. A £15 fee applies if a booking is cancelled late or missed. Our Parent Terms and Conditions explain exactly what counts as late, and we send them to you when you register.
What ages do you look after?
Children from birth to 16 years old. The upper end includes older children and young people with additional needs.
Can my professional drive my children?
Only where they can show us they hold the correct business insurance for it. Please speak to us before you arrange any journeys.
Where do you cover?
London, Essex, Hertfordshire, Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Kent. We are opening county by county as our professionals join, so please join the waitlist and we will tell you when we reach you.
What do I get for joining the waitlist?
First access when we launch in your area, plus £3 off every booking until 31 December 2026. Joining is free and you are not committing to anything.
What do you do with my family's information?
We only collect what we need to match you with the right professional and keep your children safe. We never sell personal data and never share children's data for marketing. You can read the full details in our Privacy Notice.

SEND and additional needs

Can you care for a child with additional needs?
Yes. Our Specialist professionals are experienced in supporting children with additional needs, and we match carefully on your child's needs, routines and communication. SEND care starts from £31.50 an hour, plus the £3 booking fee, with a three-hour minimum.
Does my child need a diagnosis?
No. You do not need a diagnosis to talk to us. Tell us what helps your child and what doesn't, and share any care plan you are happy for us to see.
Who can I talk to?
Our SEND team is on sen@littlevillagevcgroup.com.

For childcare professionals

Who can apply?
Childcare professionals with experience in nurseries, schools or other childcare settings, and apprentices. Your level (Standard, Experienced or Specialist) depends on your qualifications and experience. We would love to hear from SEN practitioners too.
What happens when I apply?
Send us your CV and a short cover note. If it looks like a good fit, we send you a short application form. After you return it we arrange an interview, and we let you know our decision a few days later. We then take up your references. Once those are satisfactory, we ask for your right-to-work documents, Enhanced DBS check and certificates. When every check is complete, we send your agreement and paperwork to sign.
Do I have to accept every booking?
No. You choose which bookings to accept, and you see the pay for each one before you accept it. You are engaged as a worker on a zero-hours basis, with no obligation to take work.
Who pays for my DBS check?
If you have an Enhanced DBS certificate on the DBS Update Service, we can check it. If not, we arrange a new Enhanced DBS check for you and cover the cost up front, then claim it back from your pay across your first few bookings. The details are in your Worker Agreement.
Can I work for other people too?
Yes. You can take other work. The one rule is that you cannot arrange care privately with a family you met through Little Village Co.
Is there a reward for regular bookings?
Yes. There is a reward waiting after your first ten bookings. We will tell you more once you have joined the Village.
Where do you operate?
London, Essex, Hertfordshire, Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Kent.

For nurseries and schools

What staff can you supply?
Qualified childcare staff with paediatric first aid, for nurseries, schools and out-of-school clubs. We cover breakfast, after-school and holiday clubs, and regular or ad-hoc cover in classrooms and nursery rooms.
Can we book regular staff as well as emergency cover?
Yes. You can book the same familiar faces on a regular basis, or request cover as and when you need it. Tell us as early as you can and we will confirm what we can fulfil.
How are your staff checked?
Every professional completes an application, an interview, references, right-to-work, Enhanced DBS and certificate checks before they are placed. We provide you with proof of their certificates, and every professional brings their original Enhanced DBS certificate with them on their first day for you to see.
How much does it cost and who do we pay?
Rates depend on your setting and the cover you need, so we send you a rate card directly. We invoice your setting directly.
Can we hire someone permanently?
Yes. If you want to take on a member of our team permanently, ask us about our temp-to-perm option.
Where do you cover?
London, Essex, Hertfordshire, Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Kent.

Can't see your question? Email us at hello@littlevillagevcgroup.com or message us on WhatsApp on 07337 154754 and we will get back to you.