Childcare Act 2006

1. Introduction

2. Background

3. Overview

4. Summary

   1. Part 1: General Functions of Local Authority: England

   2. Part 2: General Functions of Local Authority: Wales

   3. Part 3: Regulation of Provision of Childcare in England

   4. Part 4: Miscellaneous and General

5. Territorial Application

6. Commentary on Sections and Schedules

   1. Part 1:  General Functions of Local Authority: England

      1. Sections 1- 5: overview

      2. Section 1: General duties of local authority in relation to well-being of young children

      3. Section 2:  Meaning of “early childhood services” for purposes of

      4. Section 3:  Specific duties of local authority in relation to early childhood services

      5. Section 4: Duty of local authority and relevant partners to work together

      6. Section 5: Power to amend sections 2 to 4

      7. Sections 6-13: overview

      8. Section 6: Duty to secure sufficient childcare for working parents

      9. Section 7: Duty to secure prescribed early years provision free of charge

      10. Section 8: Powers of local authority in relation to the provision of childcare

      11. Section 9:  Arrangements between local authority and childcare providers

      12. Section 10:  Charges where local authority provide childcare

      13. Section 11: Duty to assess childcare provision

      14. Section 12: Duty to provide information, advice and assistance

      15. Section 13: Duty to provide information, advice and training to childcare providers

      16. Sections 14 and 15: Inspection and powers of Secretary of State to secure proper performance

      17. Section 16:  Amendments of Children Act 2004

      18. Section 17: Charges for early years provision at maintained school

      19. Sections 18 to 21:  Meaning of childcare and other terms

   2. Part 2 - General Functions of Local Authority:  Wales

      1. Section 22: Duty to secure sufficient childcare for working parents

      2. Section 23: Powers of local authority in relation to the provision of childcare

      3. Section 24: Arrangements between local authority and childcare providers

      4. Section 25: Charges where local authority provide childcare

      5. Section 26: Power to require local authority to assess childcare provision

      6. Section 27: Duty to provide information, advice and assistance

      7. Sections 28 and 29: Inspection and Powers of Assembly to secure proper performance

      8. Section 30: Interpretation of Part 2

   3. Part 3 – Regulation of Provision of Childcare in England

      1. Chapter 1: General Functions of Chief Inspector

         1. Section 31: General functions of the Chief Inspector

         2. Section 32: Maintenance of the two childcare registers

      2. Chapter 2: Regulation of Early Years Provision

         1. Section 33: Requirement to register: early years childminders

         2. Section 34: Requirement to register: other early years providers

         3. Section 35: Applications for registration: early years childminders

         4. Section 36: Applications for registration: other early years providers

         5. Section 37: Entry on the register and certificates

         6. Section 38: Conditions on registration

         7. Section  39: The Early Years Foundation Stage

         8. Section  40:  Duty to implement the Early Years Foundation Stage

         9. Section  41: The learning and development requirements

         10. Section 42: Further provisions about assessment arrangements

         11. Section 43: Welfare requirements

         12. Section 44: Instruments specifying learning and development or welfare requirements

         13. Section 45: Procedure for making certain orders specifying learning and development requirements

         14. Section 46: Power to enable exemptions to be conferred

         15. Section 47:  Independent Schools

         16. Section 48  and Schedule 1: Amendments relating to curriculum

         17. Section 49: Inspections

         18. Section 50: Report of inspections

         19. Section 51: Interpretation of Chapter 2

      3. Chapter 3: Regulation of Later Years Provision for children under 8

         1. Section 52: Requirement to register: later years childminders for children under eight

         2. Section 53: Requirement to register: other later years providers for children under eight

         3. Section 54: Applications for registration: later years childminders

         4. Section 55:  Applications for registration: other later years providers

         5. Section 56: Entry on the register and certificates

         6. Section 57:  Special procedure for registered early years providers

         7. Section 58: Conditions on registration

         8. Section 59: Regulations governing activities

         9. Section 60:  Inspections

         10. Section 61:  Report of inspections

      4. Chapter 4 – Voluntary registration

         1. Section 62: Applications for registration on the general register: childminders

         2. Section 63: Applications for registration on the general register: other childcare providers

         3. Section 64: Entry on the register and certificates

         4. Section 65:  Special procedure for persons already registered

         5. Section 66: Conditions on registration

         6. Section 67: Regulations governing activities

      5. Chapter 5 – Common Provisions

         1. Section 68: Cancellation of registration

         2.  Section 69: Suspension of registration

         3. Section 70: Voluntary removal from register

         4. Section 71: Termination of voluntary registration on expiry of prescribed period

         5. Section 72: Protection of children in an emergency

         6. Section 73 - Procedure for taking certain steps

         7. Section 74:  Appeals

         8. Section 75: Disqualification from registration

         9. Section 76:  Consequences of disqualification

         10. Section 77: Powers of entry

         11. Section 78: Requirement for consent to entry

         12. Section 79:  Power of constable to assist in exercise of powers of entry

         13. Section 80: Combined reports

         14. Section 81: Information to be included in annual reports

         15. Section 82:  Supply of information to  Chief Inspector

         16. Section 83:  Supply of Information to HMRC and local authorities

         17. Section 84: Disclosure of information for certain purposes

         18. Section 85: Offence of making false or misleading statement

         19. Section 86: Time limit for proceedings

         20. Sections 87 and 88:  Offences by bodies corporate and unincorporated associations

         21. Section 89: Fees

         22. Section 90:  Cases where consent to disclosure withheld

         23. Section 91:  Co-operation between authorities

         24. Section 92: Combined certificates of registration

         25. Section 93:  Notices

         26. Section 94: Power to amend Part 3: applications in respect of multiple premises

         27. Section 95: Certain institutions not to be regarded as schools

         28. Section 96:  Meaning of early years and later years provision

         29. Section 97: Employees not regarded as providing childcare

         30. Section 98: Interpretation

   4. Part 4 – Miscellaneous and General

      1. Section 99:  Provision of information about young children: England

      2. Section 100:  Provision of information about young children: transitory provision

      3. Section 101:  Provision of information about children: Wales

      4. Section 102:  Disqualification for registration under Children Act 1989

      5. Section 103:  Minor and consequential amendments and repeals

      6. Sections 104 and 105: Subordinate legislation

      7. Sections 108: Isles of Scilly

      8. Sections 109 and 110: Commencement

      9. Section 111: Short title and extent

7. Hansard References