Early years education and childcare

Information for parents

Are you a parent or carer looking for information about childcare? Our Family Information Service (FIS) pages have information on:

• Nurseries
• Playgroups
• Childminders
• Creches
• Drop-in groups
• After-school care
• Holiday playschemes and lots of
• Activities for children and young people

The new Early Years Foundation Stage framework (EYFS) took effect from September 2008. Every child from 0-5 years who goes to a school or Ofsted-registered childcare provider will be able to take advantage of the new EYFS. It’s not about introducing a curriculum for young children, or making them read or write before they’re ready. Its main aim is ensuring that each individual child is learning through high quality play, that’s tailored to them, so they develop at their own pace, having fun, making friends and learning as they play.

Registered childcare providers looking after children from birth to their fifth birthday (such as by childminders, pre-school and nurseries) will be inspected against common standards in care and early education and will now also have to think about the development and early learning of children in their care. This is something many careers already do, but it’s now recognized and set out in a single framework, and considered through a single inspection process.

You can also contact our Family Information Service.

Telephone 020 8831 6298 (9.00am to 5.00pm, there is a voicemail service outside these hours).

Information for practitioners

If you work in childcare or would like to, please visit our practitioners section, where you will find information on what the Early Years and Childcare Team can do to support you, such as training courses and advice and guidance.