Early years and childcare
New Interim Guidance for local authorities on the free entitlement
offer
Two pieces of guidance, published on 31 July 2008, are now available
for local authorities. The first is on delivering the flexible extension to the free entitlement to
25% of their 3- and 4-year-olds, and the second on the implementation of a single funding formula for early
years.
Early
years funding reform: PVI Cost Analysis Guide and free entitlement survey
results
We have published a guide on undertaking analysis of the cost of delivering
the free entitlement in PVI settings. We are also publishing the
findings from a survey into local free entitlement funding arrangements
and School Forums.
Every Child Matters: Change for Children programme aims to support parents from pregnancy onwards. The vision is to create a joined-up system of health, family support, childcare and education services so that all children get the best start possible in the vital early years.
Click to go to a section:
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Ten
Year Strategy for Childcare
The strategy focuses on choice, availability, quality and affordability in childcare.
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Childcare
Act 2006
The act takes forward key commitments from the Ten Year Strategy to help transform childcare and early years services in England.
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Sure
Start
The programme aims to increase the availability of childcare for all, improve children's health and emotional development and provide a range of support to parents.
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Assessing
and securing sufficient childcare
From April 2008 local authorities will have a new duty to secure sufficient childcare, which follows on from the childcare sufficiency assessments they are carrying out in their local areas.
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Childcare
Implementation Project
This is a collaborative project working with a group of local authorities to determine effective and innovative approaches to delivering the Ten Year Strategy.
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Early
Support - services for disabled children in early years
This is the central government programme for achieving better coordinated, family-focused services for very young disabled children and their families.
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Affordable
childcare campaign (DCSF Local Authority website)
We have launched a communications campaign to help local authorities promote formal childcare settings to parents.
Choice
for Parents, the Best Start for Children: a Ten Year Strategy for Childcare
(2004)
Choice
for parents, the best start for children: making it happen (2006)
Five
Year Strategy for Children and Learners (2004)
Th five-year strategy set an expectation that primary schools should offer
childcare between 8am and 6pm, 48 weeks a year.
National
Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services(2004)
Letter
on Sure Start Children's Centres, Extended Schools and
Childcare (February 2007)
Children's
Services: The Childcare Market (2006)
Listening
to Young Children (Open University Press, 2003)
Dedicated
Schools Grant - FAQs and Case Study - December 2006
Early years providers and their local authority partners will be
interested in these FAQs which support the free entitlement for three and
four-year-olds.
This page was last updated on 31 July 2008
