Childcare Act 2006
Part 1
General functions of local authority: England
Improvement of young children’s well-being
1
General duties of local authority in relation to well-being of young children
2
Meaning of “early childhood services” for purposes of section 3
3
Specific duties of local authority in relation to early childhood services
4
Duty of local authority and relevant partners to work together
5
Power to amend sections 2 and 4
Provision of childcare
6
Duty to secure sufficient childcare for working parents
7
Duty to secure prescribed early years provision free of charge
8
Powers of local authority in relation to the provision of childcare
9
Arrangements between local authority and childcare providers
10
Charges where local authority provide childcare
11
Duty to assess childcare provision
Information, advice and assistance
12
Duty to provide information, advice and assistance
13
Duty to provide information, advice and training to childcare providers
Miscellaneous
14
Inspection
15
Powers of Secretary of State to secure proper performance etc.
16
Amendments of Children Act 2004
17
Charges for early years provision at maintained school
Interpretation
18
Meaning of childcare
19
Meaning of “young child”
20
Meaning of “early years provision”
21
Interpretation of Part 1
Part 2
General Functions of Local Authority: Wales
Provision of childcare
22
Duty to secure sufficient childcare for working parents
23
Powers of local authority in relation to the provision of childcare
24
Arrangements between local authority and childcare providers
25
Charges where local authority provide childcare
26
Power to require local authority to assess childcare provision
Information, advice and assistance
27
Duty to provide information, advice and assistance
Miscellaneous
28
Inspection
29
Powers of Assembly to secure proper performance etc.
Interpretation
30
Interpretation of Part 2
Part 3
Regulation of Provision of Childcare in England
Chapter 1
General functions of Chief Inspector
31
General functions of the Chief Inspector
32
Maintenance of the two childcare registers
Chapter 2
Regulation of early years provision
Requirements to register
33
Requirement to register: early years childminders
34
Requirement to register: other early years providers
Process of registration
35
Applications for registration: early years childminders
36
Applications for registration: other early years providers
37
Entry on the register and certificates
38
Conditions on registration
Requirements to be met by early years providers
39
The Early Years Foundation Stage
40
Duty to implement Early Years Foundation Stage
41
The learning and development requirements
42
Further provisions about assessment arrangements
43
Welfare requirements
44
Instruments specifying learning and development or welfare requirements
45
Procedure for making certain orders
46
Power to enable exemptions to be conferred
47
Independent schools
48
Amendments relating to curriculum
Inspection
49
Inspections
50
Report of inspections
Interpretation
51
Interpretation of Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Regulation of later years provision for children under 8
Requirements to register
52
Requirement to register: later years childminders for children under eight
53
Requirement to register: other later years providers for children under eight
Process of registration
54
Applications for registration: later years childminders
55
Applications for registration: other later years providers
56
Entry on the register and certificates
57
Special procedure for registered early years providers
Regulation
58
Conditions on registration
59
Regulations governing activities
Inspection
60
Inspections
61
Report of inspections
Chapter 4
Voluntary registration
Process of voluntary registration
62
Applications for registration on the general register: childminders
63
Applications for registration on the general register: other childcare providers
64
Entry on the register and certificates
65
Special procedure for persons already registered
Regulation of persons registering voluntarily
66
Conditions on registration
67
Regulations governing activities
Chapter 5
Common provisions
Cancellation of registration etc.
68
Cancellation of registration
69
Suspension of registration
70
Voluntary removal from register
71
Termination of voluntary registration on expiry of prescribed period
Cancellation etc. in an emergency
72
Protection of children in an emergency
Registration – procedural safeguards
73
Procedure for taking certain steps
74
Appeals
Disqualification from registration
75
Disqualification from registration
76
Consequences of disqualification
Rights of entry
77
Powers of entry
78
Requirement for consent to entry
79
Power of constable to assist in exercise of powers of entry
Reports and information
80
Combined reports
81
Information to be included in annual reports
82
Supply of information to Chief Inspector
83
Supply of information to HMRC and local authorities
84
Disclosure of information for certain purposes
Offences and criminal proceedings
85
Offence of making false or misleading statement
86
Time limit for proceedings
87
Offences by bodies corporate
88
Unincorporated associations
Miscellaneous
89
Fees
90
Cases where consent to disclosure withheld
91
Co-operation between authorities
92
Combined certificates of registration
93
Notices
94
Power to amend Part 3: applications in respect of multiple premises
95
Certain institutions not to be regarded as schools
Interpretation
96
Meaning of early years and later years provision etc.
97
Employees not to be regarded as providing childcare
98
Interpretation of Part 3
Part 4
Miscellaneous and General
Provision of information about children
99
Provision of information about young children: England
100
Provision of information about young children: transitory provision
101
Provision of information about children: Wales
Disqualification for registration under Children Act 1989
102
Disqualification for registration under Children Act 1989
General
103
Minor and consequential amendments and repeals
104
Subordinate legislation: general provisions
105
Subordinate legislation: parliamentary control
106
General interpretation etc.
107
Financial provisions
108
Isles of Scilly
109
Commencement
110
The appropriate authority by whom commencement order is made
111
Short title and extent
SCHEDULES
SCHEDULE 1
Amendments relating to the curriculum
1
Interpretation
2
Education Act 1997 (c. 44)
3
Education Act 2002 (c. 32)
4
Omit section 77 of the 2002 Act (meaning of “nursery...
5
In section 78 of the 2002 Act (general requirements in...
6
(1) Section 79 of the 2002 Act (duty to implement...
7
(1) Section 80 of the 2002 Act (basic curriculum for...
8
Omit section 81 of the 2002 Act (the foundation stage)....
9
Omit section 83 of the 2002 Act (curriculum requirements for...
10
(1) Section 87 of the 2002 Act (establishment of National...
11
Omit section 89 of the 2002 Act (implementation in respect...
12
(1) Section 90 of the 2002 Act (development work and...
13
In section 93 of the 2002 Act (temporary exceptions for...
14
In section 94 of the 2002 Act (information concerning directions...
15
In section 96 of the 2002 Act (procedure for making...
16
In section 210 of the 2002 Act (orders and regulations)—...
SCHEDULE 2
Minor and consequential amendments
1
Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 (c. 42)
2
Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (c. 43)
3
Supreme Court Act 1981 (c. 54)
4
Children Act 1989 (c. 41)
5
In the heading of Part 10A of the Children Act...
6
In Part 10A of the Children Act 1989 (including Schedule...
7
In section 79B of the Children Act 1989 (other definitions...
8
In section 79C of the Children Act 1989 (regulations etc....
9
In section 79D of the Children Act 1989 (requirement to...
10
In section 79H of the Children Act 1989 (suspension of...
11
In section 79K of the Children Act 1989 (protection of...
12
Omit sections 79N, 79Q and 79R of the Children Act...
13
In section 79S of the Children Act 1989 (general functions...
14
In section 79U of the Children Act 1989 (rights of...
15
In section 79V of the Children Act 1989 (function of...
16
In section 79W of the Children Act 1989 (requirement for...
17
In section 105 of the Children Act 1989 (interpretation) in...
18
(1) Schedule 9A to the Children Act 1989 (child minding...
19
Water Industry Act 1991 (c. 56)
20
Education Act 1996 (c. 56)
21
In section 318 of the Education Act 1996 (provision of...
22
(1) Section 329A of the Education Act 1996 (review or...
23
In section 509A of the Education Act 1996 (travel arrangements...
24
In section 512 of the Education Act 1996 (LEA functions...
25
(1) Section 515 of the Education Act 1996 (provision of...
26
(1) Section 535 of the Education Act 1996 (provision of...
27
(1) Section 548 of the Education Act 1996 (no right...
28
Education Act 1997 (c. 44)
29
Police Act 1997 (c. 50)
30
School Standards and Framework Act 1998 (c. 31)
31
Section 118A of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998...
32
(1) Section 119 of the School Standards and Framework Act...
33
(1) Section 122 of the School Standards and Framework Act...
34
In section 123 of the School Standards and Framework Act...
35
In section 142 of the School Standards and Framework Act...
36
(1) Schedule 26 to the School Standards and Framework Act...
37
Protection of Children Act 1999 (c. 14)
38
In section 9 of the Protection of Children Act 1999...
39
Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 (c. 43)
40
In section 42 of the Criminal Justice and Court Services...
41
Education Act 2002 (c. 32)
42
In section 176 of the Education Act 2002 (consultation with...
43
Children Act 2004 (c. 31)
44
Education Act 2005 (c. 18)
SCHEDULE 3
Repeals
Part 1
The curriculum
Part 2
Other repeals

Childcare Act 2006
2006 Chapter 21
An Act to make provision about the powers and duties of local authorities and other bodies in England in relation to the improvement of the well-being of young children; to make provision about the powers and duties of local authorities in England and Wales in relation to the provision of childcare and the provision of information to parents and other persons; to make provision about the regulation and inspection of childcare provision in England; to amend Part 10A of the Children Act 1989 in relation to Wales; and for connected purposes.
[11th July 2006]
Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—