Childcare Act 2006

31 General functions of the Chief Inspector

(1) The Chief Inspector has the general duty of keeping the Secretary of State informed about—

(a) the contribution of regulated early years provision in England to the well-being of children for whom it is provided;

(b) the quality and standards of regulated early years provision in England;

(c) how far regulated early years provision in England meets the needs of the range of children for whom it is provided;

(d) the quality of leadership and management in connection with regulated early years provision in England.

(2) In subsection (1), “regulated early years provision” means early years provision in respect of which a person is required to be registered under Chapter 2 or in respect of which he would be required to be registered under that Chapter but for section 34(2) (exemption for provision for children aged 3 or over at certain schools).

(3) When asked to do so by the Secretary of State, the Chief Inspector must give advice to the Secretary of State on such matters relating to early years provision or later years provision in England as may be specified in the Secretary of State’s request.

(4) The Chief Inspector may at any time give advice to the Secretary of State on any matter connected with—

(a) early years provision or later years provision in England generally, or

(b) early years provision or later years provision in England by particular persons or on particular premises.

(5) The Chief Inspector is to have such other functions in connection with early years provision or later years provision in England as may be assigned to him by the Secretary of State.