Childcare Legislation Wales
Legislation Governing Childcare Services
There are a number of laws in the UK that affect children and childcare services; some are designed to give children certain rights, whilst others are aimed at protecting them from harm. Below is a brief summary of some of the relevant legislation.
The Children Act 1989
This Act aims to protect the child from harm and to work in partnership with parents, ensuring that the welfare of the child is paramount. It forms the legal framework that sets quality standards in most voluntary and private sector children's services, and enables Ofsted to operate a registration and inspection system for the following services:
• Childminders
• Crèches
• Day Nurseries
• Out of School Clubs / Holiday Playschemes
• Playgroups
• Private Nursery Schools
However, childcare provided by nannies, au pairs, and for children over the age of 8 are not registered or inspected.
Ofsted checks the suitability and safety of the building, and also ensures that the staff members are suitable (and anyone else who will come into contact with the children), and that they plan the children's activities to help them enjoy playing and learning. Ofsted also checks that the facility follows the recommended staff:child ratios laid out in the national standards under the Children Act.
Education Act
The first Education Act came into force in 1921, and has been updated a number of times since that date, most recently in 2002. The Education Act covers what children are taught in nursery schools, state nursery classes and maintained schools, along with staff training and qualifications, and inspection regimes.
Protection of Children Act 1999
This Act creates a system for identifying persons considered to be unsuitable to work with children.
Sexual Offences Act 2003
This Act strengthens the Sex Offenders Register and aims to further protect children from sexual crimes, extending the existing abuse of position of trust offences.
United Nations
There are a number of laws in the UK that affect children and childcare services; some are designed to give children certain rights, whilst others are aimed at protecting them from harm. Below is a brief summary of some of the relevant legislation.
The Children Act 1989
This Act aims to protect the child from harm and to work in partnership with parents, ensuring that the welfare of the child is paramount. It forms the legal framework that sets quality standards in most voluntary and private sector children's services, and enables Ofsted to operate a registration and inspection system for the following services:
• Childminders
• Crèches
• Day Nurseries
• Out of School Clubs / Holiday Playschemes
• Playgroups
• Private Nursery Schools
However, childcare provided by nannies, au pairs, and for children over the age of 8 are not registered or inspected.
Ofsted checks the suitability and safety of the building, and also ensures that the staff members are suitable (and anyone else who will come into contact with the children), and that they plan the children's activities to help them enjoy playing and learning. Ofsted also checks that the facility follows the recommended staff:child ratios laid out in the national standards under the Children Act.
Education Act
The first Education Act came into force in 1921, and has been updated a number of times since that date, most recently in 2002. The Education Act covers what children are taught in nursery schools, state nursery classes and maintained schools, along with staff training and qualifications, and inspection regimes.
Protection of Children Act 1999
This Act creates a system for identifying persons considered to be unsuitable to work with children.
Sexual Offences Act 2003
This Act strengthens the Sex Offenders Register and aims to further protect children from sexual crimes, extending the existing abuse of position of trust offences.
United Nations