These Regulations amend the Childcare (Early Years Register) Regulations 2008 which made provision for the Early Years Register of childminders and other providers of childcare. The register is maintained by Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills (“the Chief Inspector”) under Chapter 2 of Part 3 of the Childcare Act 2006.

Regulation 2(2) amends Schedule 1 (registration of early years childminders) so that, prior to registration, an applicant must have completed an appropriate course approved by an English Local Authority, designed to help the applicant to understand and implement the Early Years Foundation Stage learning and development requirements and welfare requirements. Prior to the amendment the course did not need to be completed before registration but within six months of registering.

Regulation 2(3) amends Schedule 2 (registration of other early years providers). The amendments require an applicant who is not a childminder to obtain an enhanced criminal record certificate in respect of the manager of the early years provision. (This was previously undertaken by Ofsted.) The amendments accordingly remove the requirement on the applicant to send an application for an enhanced criminal record certificate in respect of a manager to the Chief Inspector. They also remove the requirement on the applicant to include information relating to a manager in the registration application (name, date of birth, address, telephone number, referees, offences, qualifications and employment history).

An impact assessment has been produced for these Regulations and is available, with the Explanatory Memorandum at http://www.ialibrary.bis.gov.uk/