Day care groups
Registering as a day care group
Day care is care provided at any time (day or night) for
children aged under eight years on non-domestic premises for over
two hours a day.
All day care providers must be registered with Ofsted (The
Office for Standards in Education), who is responsible for
registering and inspecting day care groups. Inspectors from Ofsted
will visit the premises after an application to register has been
submitted to ensure that the national standards for childcare are
met.
Types of day care
Full day care
Day care for children aged under eight years for a
continuous period of four hours or more in any day. Examples:
Day nurseries, children's centres and some family centres.
Sessional day care
Day care for children aged under eight years for
sessions that are less than a continuous period of four hours in a
day, eg playgroups that run mornings only, or those that run both
mornings and afternoons but with a break between the sessions (when
the children do not attend).
Crèches
Crèches provide occasional care for children aged under
eight years for over five days a year. They must be registered with
Ofsted where they run for over two hours a day, even when children
attend for shorter periods. Crèches might be:
- on permanent premises to care for children while parents are
taking part in activities such as shopping or sport
or - on a temporary basis to care for children while their parents are attending a one-off event, eg a conference or exhibition
Out of school care (including 'open access' schemes)
Day care for children aged under eight years (eg holiday
play schemes, after school clubs, summer camps and breakfast
clubs), which operates for one or more of the following:
- before school
- after school
- during school holidays
The total care provided is for over two hours a day and for over five days a year.
How to set up a day care group
You will need to contact the
Children's Information Service. An
information pack will be sent to you.
Support is available for new childcare providers with the registration process. The Ealing Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership (EYDCP) provides a range of free support:
- our childcare development officer will help you through the registration process
- the business support officer will assist you with your business plan
- the Children's Information Service can advertise your new childcare setting and more
Your setting must be ready to open before you submit your application to Ofsted. The registration process from receipt of your application can take up to six and a half months.
Is day care for you?
- do I enjoy looking after children?
- are my premises suitable?
- what age group do I want to look after?
- can I offer play activities, meals, snacks and drinks, and sleeping, resting, toilet and nappy changing facilities?
- can I offer children a happy and stimulating environment, with sufficient toys, furniture and equipment to meet their needs?