Childcare and early years

Finding childcare, running a childcare business, financial support, data collection, local authority obligations.

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Services

1. Find an Ofsted inspection report

   Search for Ofsted inspection reports for childminders and childcare providers, schools, colleges, further education providers, children and families services

2. Early years foundation stage

   The early years foundation stage (EYFS) sets standards for the learning, development and care of children from birth to 5

3. Find free early education and childcare

   Check if your council offers free early education and childcare

4. Find a nursery school place

   Apply for a place in a nursery school for children under 5 through your local council

5. Unpaid parental leave

   Employer and employee guide to unpaid parental leave - eligibility, how much leave can be taken and notice periods

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Guidance and regulation

1. Early years foundation stage statutory framework (EYFS)
   • Statutory guidance
   • 20 February 2018
   • Department for Education
2. Education inspection framework (EIF)
   • Guidance
   • 2 September 2019
   • Ofsted
3. Sign in to your childcare provider account for Tax-Free Childcare
   • Detailed guide
   • 30 July 2018
   • HM Revenue & Customs
4. Early years inspection handbook
   • Guidance
   • 2 September 2019
   • Ofsted
5. Check early years qualifications
   • Detailed guide
   • 25 October 2019
   • Department for Education

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News and communications

7 October 2019 — News story

Check your blind cords and keep your home safe

Office for Product Safety and Standards

1. PM calls for greater equality in parental leave
   • 19 July 2019
   • Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street
   • Press release
2. Society-wide mission to boost early literacy and communication
   • 2 July 2019
   • Department for Education
   • News story
3. Button batteries campaign: how to stay safe
   • 27 June 2019
   • Office for Product Safety and Standards
   • News story
4. Stoke Speaks Out: supporting speech, language and communication
   • 23 May 2019
   • Public Health England
   • Case study

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Research and statistics

1. Childcare providers and inspections as at 31 December 2018
   • 22 October 2019
   • Ofsted
   • Official statistics
2. Childcare providers and inspections as at 31 March 2019
   • 22 October 2019
   • Ofsted
   • Official statistics
3. Childcare providers and inspections as at 31 August 2018
   • 22 October 2019
   • Ofsted
   • Official statistics
4. Childrens Social Care Statistics for Northern Ireland 2018/19
   • 10 October 2019
   • Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency and Department of Health (Northern Ireland)
   • National statistics
5. Education inspection framework: overview of research
   • 2 July 2019
   • Ofsted
   • Research

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Policy papers and consultations

1. Early years foundation stage reforms
   • 24 October 2019
   • Department for Education
   • Open consultation
   • Closing date 31 January 2020
2. Education inspection framework 2019: inspecting the substance of education
   • 29 July 2019
   • Ofsted
   • Consultation outcome
   • Date closed 05 April 2019
3. Early years childcare fees regulations
   • 18 July 2019
   • Department for Education
   • Closed consultation
   • Date closed 09 October 2019
4. Surveys on childcare and early years in England
   • 20 December 2018
   • Department for Education
   • Consultation outcome
   • Date closed 18 May 2018
5. Government response to the 'First 1000 days of life' report
   • 6 June 2019
   • Department of Health and Social Care
   • Policy paper

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Transparency and freedom of information releases

1. Consented addresses for childminders and domestic childcare
   • 14 November 2019
   • Ofsted
   • Transparency
2. Number of children’s centres: 2003 to 2019
   • 7 November 2019
   • Department for Education
   • Transparency
3. Childminder and home childcarer (nanny) applications
   • 22 July 2019
   • Ofsted
   • Transparency
4. Ofsted Inspectors: lists
   • 1 July 2019
   • Ofsted
   • Transparency
5. Ofsted Annual Report 2017/18: education, children’s services and skills
   • 4 December 2018
   • Ofsted
   • Corporate report

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Organisations

1. Department for Education
2. HM Revenue & Customs
3. Standards & Testing Agency
4. Department for Work & Pensions
5. Public Health England

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1. Department of Health & Social Care
2. Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
3. HM Treasury
4. Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
5. Office for Product Safety & Standards
6. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street
7. Companies House
8. Disclosure & Barring Service

1. Ofsted
2. UK Council for Internet Safety

Explore sub-topics

1. Data collection for early years and childcare
2. Finding childcare
3. Local authorities and early years
4. Providing childcare