How many children aged under three should childminders and nursery staff be allowed to look after at the same time?
A relaxation in the number of pre-school children that nurseries and registered childminders can oversee has been announced in order to professionalise the pre-school workforce and cut the cost of childcare in England.
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Quick linksFind out how you can help improve quality by getting involved in childcare.
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All registered childcare services in England are registered and inspected by Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills) at least once every 3 years. Following an inspection, a report on the childcare service is available and you can request to see this from the childcare provider or view it online at: www.ofsted.gov.uk and use the unique registration number of the provider to search.
As a registered service, the childcare provider is on the national childcare register and has to meet the standards and regulations set out, which are:
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In Wales, childcare for children up to the age of 8, for more than 2 hours a day is registered by Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW). The Childcare at Home Approval Scheme is a voluntary scheme run by CSSIW which approves providers who care for children up to the age of 8 in the child's own home. You can request to see inspection reports for childcare services in Wales using the name of the service and the post code at: www.csiw.wales.gov.uk.
In Scotland childcare services are registered and inspected by the Care Inspectorate.
When visiting a childcare provider always ask for references and speak to other parents about the care provided to get another perspective of the quality of the service.
For more information about quality in childcare services see our factsheet ‘Visiting childcare providers: How to find high-quality childcare'.
Further informationFind out more about high quality childcare and standards in childcare by downloading our free factsheet, 'Visiting childcare providers: How to find high-quality childcare'. Read inspection reports for childcare settings at:
Find out more about help to pay for registered childcare on our Paying for childcare website. |
The new name for Daycare Trust and the Family and Parenting Institute.
Report reveals childcare is the luxury that families have to afford as figures show that nursery, childminder and after-school club costs are all rising at more than double the rate of inflation.
The two charities merged on 1 January 2013 and the new charity will be launched in April 2013.
A review of Daycare Trust's achievements in 2012
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