Childcare and early years

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

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Services

1. Find free early education and childcare

   Check if your council offers free early education and childcare

2. Find a nursery school place

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

3. Early years foundation stage

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

4. Find an Ofsted inspection report

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

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

See more guidance and regulation in this topic

News and communications

19 July 2019 — Press release

PM calls for greater equality in parental leave

Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street

1. Society-wide mission to boost early literacy and communication
   • 2 July 2019
   • Department for Education
   • News story
2. Button batteries campaign: how to stay safe
   • 27 June 2019
   • Office for Product Safety and Standards
   • News story
3. Stoke Speaks Out: supporting speech, language and communication
   • 23 May 2019
   • Public Health England
   • Case study
4. Family safeguarding in Hertfordshire
   • 23 May 2019
   • Public Health England
   • Case study

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Research and statistics

1. Childcare providers and inspections as at 31 March 2019
   • 17 July 2019
   • Ofsted
   • Official statistics
2. Childcare providers and inspections as at 31 December 2018
   • 3 July 2019
   • Ofsted
   • Official statistics
3. Childcare providers and inspections as at 31 August 2018
   • 3 July 2019
   • Ofsted
   • Official statistics
4. Education inspection framework: overview of research
   • 2 July 2019
   • Ofsted
   • Research
5. 30 hours free childcare: summer term 2019
   • 13 June 2019
   • Department for Education
   • Official statistics

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Policy papers and consultations

1. Education inspection framework 2019: inspecting the substance of education
   • 29 July 2019
   • Ofsted
   • Consultation outcome
   • Date closed 05 April 2019
2. Early years childcare fees regulations
   • 18 July 2019
   • Department for Education
   • Open consultation
   • Closing date 09 October 2019
3. Surveys on childcare and early years in England
   • 20 December 2018
   • Department for Education
   • Consultation outcome
   • Date closed 18 May 2018
4. Early education and childcare workforce: level 2 qualifications
   • 26 July 2018
   • Department for Education
   • Consultation outcome
   • Date closed 28 February 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 August 2019
   • Ofsted
   • Transparency
2. Childminder and home childcarer (nanny) applications
   • 22 July 2019
   • Ofsted
   • Transparency
3. Ofsted Inspectors: lists
   • 1 July 2019
   • Ofsted
   • Transparency
4. Ofsted Annual Report 2017/18: education, children’s services and skills
   • 4 December 2018
   • Ofsted
   • Corporate report
5. Ofsted Annual Report 2016/17: education, children’s services and skills
   • 13 December 2017
   • Ofsted
   • Corporate report

See more transparency and freedom of information releases in this topic

Organisations

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

Show more organisations

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

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