Hi
The
Childcare Act 2006 is a pioneering piece of legislation.
It is the first ever act to be exclusively concerned with early years and childcare and early childhood services.
A good start in life is essential if children are to fulfil their potential and high quality early childhood services will result in better outcomes for young children, their families and society. The Childcare Act 2006 takes forward key commitments from the Ten Year Childcare Strategy, published in December 2004.
The three key drivers of the 2006 Act are:
Reduce child poverty: To support parents to work, and hence the focus on the provision of good quality childcare for working parents.
Reduce inequalities between young children: Focusing on supporting children most at risk of poor outcomes because of deprivation and disadvantage and promoting social mobility.
Improve wellbeing for young children: Focusing on the 5 Every Child Matters outcomes: Safety, Health, Economic Wellbeing, Enjoy and Achieve, Making a Positive Contribution.
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Sources of information:
Childcare Act 2006 summary for early years settings
From page 106 of England's Early Years Educator level 3 classroom handbook 2015
The Childcare Act 2006 applies mainly to England, but similar legislation is in place for other home nations (Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland)
The Act made the Safeguarding and Welfare requirements in the EYFS framework legally binding. These include the need to:
- have a health and safety policy and carry out risk assessments
- to keep records of accidents, incidents and emergencies and to report these to ofsted when they are serious.
- to have a no smoking policy
- to have staff trained in paediatric first aid
- to train staff in evacuation procedures
- to train all staff involved in food preparation and handling
- to check the identity of visitors and to only allow people named by parents to collect children
- to meet the minimum staff-child ratios as stated in the EYFS statutory framework
- to meet the minimum space requirements per child as stated in the EYFS statutory framework
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What is the Childcare Act 2006
From the summaries of OSN.org.uk
The Childcare Act 2006, is pioneering legislation – the first ever exclusively concerned with early years and childcare. The Act is intended to transform childcare and early years services in England, taking forward some of the key commitments from the The Ten Year Childcare Strategy published in December 2004. Measures in the Act formalise the important strategic role Local Authorities play through a set of new duties. These duties require authorities to:
• improve the five Every Child Matters (ECM) outcomes for all pre-school children and reduce inequalities in these outcomes
• secure sufficient childcare for working parents
• provide a better parental information service
The Act also reforms early years regulation and inspection arrangements, introducing the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and the new Ofsted Childcare (Compulsory and Voluntary) Register. The sufficiency, information and outcomes duties came into effect from 1 April 2008 and the remaining provisions from September 2008.
Childcare Act 2006 - a summary and legislation description
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