Office of the Leader of the House of Commons

Childcare Act

Key Benefits Places a new duty on local authorities to improve the outcomes of all children under 5 and close the gaps between groups with the poorest outcomes and the rest by ensuring early years services are integrated and accessible - underpinning a children's centre for every community. Places new duty on local authorities to secure sufficient childcare to meet the needs of working parents and those preparing to work, especially those from lower income families and those with disabled children. Broadens the current duty on local authorities to provide mothers and fathers with a broad range of information to help them in their role as parents. Introduces a new Early Years Foundation Stage to integrate currently separate requirements for education and childcare in a coherent way and ensure quality early years provision for children from birth to age 5. Introduces a simplified legal framework for regulating and inspecting early years and childcare to reduce bureaucracy and focus on raising quality.

Act of Parliament

Explanatory Notes

Territorial Extent
United Kingdom

Comments

If you have any comments you can email them to:

childcare.bill@dfes.gsi.gov.uk

Additional Information

The Childcare Act implements proposals set out in 'Choice for parents, the best start for children: a ten year strategy for childcare,' published alongside the Pre-Budget Report in December 2004. Proposals on maternity leave and pay, have been taken forward in the Work and Families Act.

Department for Education and Skills





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