Hughes elaborates on childcare plans

The proposed Ofsted Childcare Register will be compulsory for providers for children aged under-eight years old, children’s minister Beverley Hughes announced today.The proposed Ofsted Childcare Register will be compulsory for providers for children aged under-eight years old, children’s minister Beverley Hughes announced today.

Speaking at the Daycare Trust annual conference, the minister announced further details about the planned Childcare Bill following a consultation on the issue.

“Ensuring children, particularly young  children, are safe when receiving childcare is a key concern for us all,” said Hughes. “I can announce today that registration will be compulsory for childcare providers for children up to age 8, whilst remaining voluntary for those providing care for children up to 14.”

The forthcoming Bill will introduce a new legal framework for regulating and inspecting early education and childcare by 2008.

It will also set down new duties which will require local authorities to:

* Secure sufficient childcare to meet the needs of working parents and those wanting to work.

* Closing the gap between those with the poorest outcomes ad the rest

* Ensure parents have access to all the information they want.
 

Hughes confirmed that the government wanted to publish the Childcare Bill in this parliamentary session.