Guidance and regulation

The standards that school and childcare providers must meet for the learning, development and care of children from birth to 5.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 19 January 2024

• Summary of changes for childminders

  Summary of changes for childminders, since the previous issued framework.…

• Summary of changes for group and school-based providers

  Summary of changes for group and school-based providers, since the…

Non-statutory curriculum guidance for the early years foundation stage.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 4 September 2023

• Development Matters

  Introduction No job is more important than working with children in the…

Lists of qualifications that meet DfE's criteria for counting in the early years foundation stage framework staff:child ratios.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 1 March 2024

Find out if a person’s qualifications allow them to work in an early years setting, and if you can include them in staff:child ratios.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 5 September 2022

This framework sets out Ofsted's inspection principles and the main judgements that inspectors make.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 14 July 2023

Sign in and use your childcare provider account if you’ve signed up to receive Tax-Free Childcare payments from parents.

• From: HM Revenue & Customs
• Updated: 30 July 2018

You might need to create a new Government Gateway account if you have forgotten both your user ID and password.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 7 July 2020

Find out how to sign up to Tax-Free Childcare and get a childcare provider account to receive payments from parents using the scheme.

• From: HM Revenue & Customs
• Updated: 11 March 2020

Ofsted guidance on inspecting registered early years and childcare providers under the education inspection framework.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 5 April 2024

Explains the role of local authorities and the funding they'll get to expand the availability of wraparound care in their areas from September 2024.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 27 February 2024

How to get a criminal records check if you want to look after children for a living: who needs a check, what it costs and how long it takes.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 3 December 2019

Find out what information you will need to create and use a Government Gateway account so that you can use Ofsted's services.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 7 July 2020

You must apply to Ofsted if you want to take up a governance position in a daycare organisation, or if you start living or working in a home where daycare takes place.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 14 November 2023

Eligible new childminders can apply for a start-up grant to recover the cost of registering as a childminder.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 5 March 2024

Statutory guidance for local authorities on the provision of early education and childcare.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 1 January 2024

Guidance to provide support for early years practitioners when completing the early years foundation stage (EYFS) progress check at age 2.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 11 May 2022

Ofsted-registered childminders, nannies, nurseries and other daycare must use this service to report significant events affecting their childcare within 14 days.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 19 August 2022

Health declaration forms for childminders and people who work in childcare or children's social care.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 1 April 2024

Information for childminders and providers of childcare on domestic premises wishing to register with a childminder agency.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 1 December 2023

Guidance for childminders, nannies and other registered childcare providers with examples of what Ofsted considers to be a significant event.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 3 March 2022