Setting up a childcare provision

If you are interested in setting up a childcare provision, you will need to contact the Early Years Safeguarding and Welfare Officer. The Early Years Safeguarding and Welfare Officer will be able to provide support and advice throughout the process and will be able to signpost you to other specialist help if required.

A childcare provision is a specialised facility that provides care for children, for example, full day or sessional nurseries, childminders, crèches, and playgroups.

If you are a school looking to set up childcare provision on your school site, please see the specific guidance in the documents table below.

It is important to research what childcare is currently available in any given area to see whether there are already sufficient childcare places available. It is advisable that you look at setting up childcare provision in an area where there are not sufficient childcare places already available.

As well as the Early Years Safeguarding and Welfare Officer, the Family Information Service may also be able to help you with your research, as they hold a database of all childcare provision in Plymouth. They can be contacted on 0800 783 4259 or email enquires@routeways.org.uk.

Once you have identified a gap in the market, you will also need to check that there is sufficient demand for an additional service by consultating with parents and the community.

It would be helpful to look at what childcare they use at present, if any, and what childcare provision they would like to be provided in the area.

The results of the consultation with parents and the community will help you to decide on suitable premises, opening hours and the ages of children you will register for.

For support in writing a business plan you can contact the Business Support Team on 01752 856724 or email jrule@routeways.org.uk. The Business Support Team may also be able to offer you help with accessing potential funding that could help you in setting up your provision.

Ofsted is responsible for the regulation of childcare provisions in England.

In order to set up a childcare provision you must register with Ofsted, on the Early Years Register, Childcare Register or both. The Ofsted application process can take up to six months to complete.
The Early Years Safeguarding and Welfare Officer will be able to offer advice and support with:

• the Ofsted registers and application process
• ensuring that you will meet the welfare requirements
• all aspects of health, safety and risk assessment
• policies and procedures

Further information on the Ofsted Early Years Register, and Compulsory and Voluntary parts of the Childcare Register can be found on the Ofsted registers page.

Guidance and forms about registration and Ofsted requirements can be found on the Ofsted guidance pages.

For further information and advice please contact the Early Years Service.

School based provision

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