Placing children within a Nursery or with a childminder

Who has children who fit into this category? Do you have any advice for other Mums looking to do this? What were your experiences on leaving your child with someone other than friends/family??
Those looking to do this what are yoiur opinions?

I've no experience, but I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone has to say on this xxx

I have experirnce with both. When Matthew was 2 I had to put him into a daycare nursery 2 mornings a week as my mum wasnt able to mind him full time for me, she works part time too. He loved it and teh girls were great, it was good for him as an only child to meet other kids. I took him out of the daycare as when he turned 3 he was eligable for Nursery at the local primary school, 5 days a week 12-2.30. This was wonderful for him, as some of you know he is mildly auitistic and has speech problems so it helped greatly with his social intercation. It means he is dong 2 years of Nursery before enetering Primary 1. He has a childminder Thurs and Fri as I work full days these 2 days. She drops him to school and picks him up, he adore him and she is wonderful with him. I think for my next child I would stick with a childminder, though its important to find the right one!