Quality and standards in childcare

The Childcare Act 2006 says childcare is ‘any form of care for a child including education or any other supervised activity’.

Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education)

Ofsted is responsible for the registration, inspection, investigation and enforcement of early learning and childcare provision. Registration includes a criminal records check on anyone involved in providing childcare and an inspection of the premises to look at health and safety and educational welfare issues. You can access inspection reports from the Ofsted website. For childminder Ofsted inspection reports, please contact Salford FIS on 0161 909 6508.

Early Years Register

Childcare for children aged five and under must be registered on the Early Years Register (EYR) if the childcare provision is more than two hours per day for any individual child and is open more than 14 days in any 12 month period. The EYR is compulsory.

General Childcare Register

The General Childcare Register (GCR) has two parts:

1. Compulsory - childcare for children aged five to eight must be registered on the GCR
2. Voluntary - childcare and activities for children aged 8 to 18 can voluntarily register on the GCR. Other providers that can voluntarily register include nannies, crèches and activity-based settings, e.g. sports coaching or tuition

Providers who do not need to register

• Relative of a child or a foster carer
• Schools - childcare and activities that are provided directly by a school for children aged three and over, where at least one is a registered pupil, do not need to be separately registered by Ofsted
• A children’s home, care home or young offenders institution

For further information please download the Ofsted factsheet 'Registration not required' below.

NB. Parents using registered childcare will be eligible to apply for the childcare element of the Working Tax Credit (providing they meet the other requirements). They are also eligble to apply for this tax credit for activities provided directly by a school.

Early Years Foundation Stage

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the new framework setting the standards for learning, development and care for children from birth up to the 31 August following their fifth birthday. All schools and registered early years providers have to follow this play-based framework.

The EYFS ensures:

• children learn through play
• providers work closely with parents
• your child’s learning at home is taken into account
• you are kept up to date on your child’s progress
• the welfare, learning and all-round development of children with different backgrounds and levels of ability, including those with special educational needs and disabilities

To find out more about the EYFS please visit Directgov or read the DCSF 'It's Child's Play' leaflet for parents below.

Quality Improvement Framework

A Quality Improvement Framework has recently been devised and introduced by Salford City Council to support all childcare providers in meeting the requirements of the EYFS. It is designed to help providers develop practices to consistently high standards in order to improve outcomes for children and families in Salford. The framework covers a range of topics such as leadership and management, positive relationships, learning and development and welfare requirements.

Who to contact

For further information about quality and standards in childcare, email SLW@salford.gov.uk.

This page was last updated on 23 September 2011