Early Years and Childcare Service

The Early Years and Childcare Service has responsibility for developing and sustaining high quality, inclusive early years provision which includes early years education, childcare and children’s centre services which are accessible and meet parents needs.

The Childcare Act 2006 places a duty on local authorities to ensure that sufficient early years and childcare provision is available and accessible for all families with children up to the age of 16. It also requires local authorities to improve the five Every Child Matters outcomes for all children aged 0-5 years through the delivery of integrated early childhood services to close the gap between groups with the poorest outcomes and others.

What's new?

Revised EYFS

The revised EYFS, effective from September 2012, takes forward the Governments changes to the 2008 framework as recommended by Tickell’s review 2011. A summary of the new framework and the supporting documents such as 'Development matters' and 'Birth to three matters' and guidance on how to approach the progress check at age two are detailed in the document below.

EYFS summary image - PDF icon (63KB - pdf help)

A copy of the revised framework together with the supporting documents can be found on the Families in the Foundation Years website at: www.foundationyears.org.uk.

CWDC changes

With effect from 31^st March 2012 the early years work and support previously carried out by the CWDC will pass to the Department for Education's (DfE) Teaching Agency. CWDC will no longer be responsible for this work. To find out more about the Teaching Agency visit the DfE website.

The qualifications list is now available at: www.education.gov.uk/eypqd/qualification-search.

2gether - Free early learning and childcare for disadvantaged 2 year olds

The Early Years and Childcare Service has secured funding this year to roll out its 2gether programme across the whole county and has plans to increase places available over the next 3 years. More information is available for parents/carers and for childcare providers.