Early years and childcare

Early Years National Report: Leading to excellence (Ofsted August 2008)
Report examining leadership and management in early years and childcare reveals encouraging progress but raises concerns about the declining quality of childminding.

Interim Guidance for local authorities on the free entitlement offer
Two pieces of guidance, published on 31 July 2008, are now available for local authorities. The first is on delivering the flexible extension to the free entitlement to 25% of their 3- and 4-year-olds, and the second on the implementation of a single funding formula for early years.

Early years funding reform: PVI Cost Analysis Guide and free entitlement survey results
We have published a guide on undertaking analysis of the cost of delivering the free entitlement in PVI settings. We are also publishing the findings from a survey into local free entitlement funding arrangements and School Forums.

Every Child Matters: Change for Children programme aims to support parents from pregnancy onwards. The vision is to create a joined-up system of health, family support, childcare and education services so that all children get the best start possible in the vital early years.

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Ten Year Strategy for Childcare
The strategy focuses on choice, availability, quality and affordability in childcare.
Childcare Act 2006
The act takes forward key commitments from the Ten Year Strategy to help transform childcare and early years services in England.
Sure Start
The programme aims to increase the availability of childcare for all, improve children's health and emotional development and provide a range of support to parents.
Assessing and securing sufficient childcare
From April 2008 local authorities will have a new duty to secure sufficient childcare, which follows on from the childcare sufficiency assessments they are carrying out in their local areas.
Childcare Implementation Project
This is a collaborative project working with a group of local authorities to determine effective and innovative approaches to delivering the Ten Year Strategy.
Early Support - services for disabled children in early years
This is the central government programme for achieving better coordinated, family-focused services for very young disabled children and their families.
Affordable childcare campaign (DCSF Local Authority website)
We have launched a communications campaign to help local authorities promote formal childcare settings to parents.