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…

If you pay for childcare while you go to work, Universal Credit can pay some of your childcare costs.

• From: Department for Work and Pensions
• Updated: 8 April 2024

Statutory guidance on multi-agency working to help, protect and promote the welfare of children.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 23 February 2024

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

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

The Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme, also known as Sarah’s Law, lets those who care for young people find out if a person has a record for child sexual offences.

• From: Home Office
• Updated: 3 April 2023

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: 16 May 2024

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

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 14 July 2023

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: 16 May 2024

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

How education settings should prepare for and respond to terrorism and other major incidents.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 29 April 2024

Guidance on information sharing for people who provide safeguarding services to children, young people, parents and carers.

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

Information for existing and new Universal Credit claimants with more than 2 children.

• From: Department for Work and Pensions
• Updated: 27 January 2021

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

One-page summary for health professionals and immunisation practitioners giving vaccinations.

• From: UK Health Security Agency
• Updated: 6 September 2023

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

Ask HMRC to review your Tax-Free Childcare or 30 hours free childcare application if you disagree with a decision that you are not eligible.

• From: HM Revenue & Customs
• Updated: 9 January 2020

A practical guide for staff on managing cases of infectious diseases in children and young people settings, including education.

• From: UK Health Security Agency
• Updated: 16 May 2024

Applications for the 2024 programme have now closed.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 3 April 2023

Tell Ofsted about a serious incident in a children’s home or secure children’s home.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 26 October 2023

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

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 5 April 2024