Policy papers and consultations

A technical consultation to test a proposed model for the experience-based route, proposed eligibility criteria and process requirements.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 22 April 2024

We are seeking views on our proposals to strengthen the safeguarding requirements within the statutory framework for the EYFS.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 22 April 2024

Information about the 2023 Spring Budget announcement on early years entitlements and associated funding.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 19 April 2024

• Childminder start-up grants scheme update: September 2023

  Applications for the childminder start-up grants scheme are now open.…

• Childminder start-up grants scheme update: April 2023

  Following the announcement of the new start-up grant for childminders at…

• Early education entitlements and funding update: March 2023

  In the government’s spring budget, the Chancellor announced transformative…

We are seeking views on Department for Education proposals to support childminders and childminder agencies (CMAs) and future policy development.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 15 March 2024

We are seeking views on proposals regarding our approach to funding for early years entitlements for 2-year-olds and under from April 2024.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 29 November 2023

We’re seeking views on proposed changes to requirements in the early years foundation stage (EYFS).

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 27 October 2023

An evaluation plan and theory of change of the Ofsted education inspection framework (EIF).

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 22 August 2023

Sets out the government's progress in implementing the Early Years Healthy Development Review report 'The best start for life: a vision for the 1,001 critical days'.

• From: Department of Health and Social Care
• Updated: 4 April 2023

We are gathering a range of views to help us reach well-informed and fair decisions on proposed regulatory changes to childcare in England.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 15 March 2023

Information about childminder agencies (CMAs).

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 3 March 2022

DfE requirements for Ofsted when inspecting early years childcare providers.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 26 May 2021

This consultation seeks your views on proposed changes to our statistical release on childcare providers and inspections.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 11 May 2021

DfE requirements for Ofsted when organising and undertaking childminder agency (CMA) inspections.

• From: Department for Education and 1 others
• Updated: 23 February 2021

We're seeking views on proposed changes to early years fees paid to Ofsted, and on the principles that should underpin a revised fee model.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 17 March 2020

Ofsted seeks your views on our proposals for changes to the education inspection framework from September 2019.

• From: Ofsted
• Updated: 29 July 2019

Command paper responding to the Health and Social Care Select Committee report on 'First 1000 days of life'.

• From: Department of Health and Social Care
• Updated: 6 June 2019

Government response to the Education Select Committee report on tackling disadvantage in the early years.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 4 April 2019

This consultation seeks user perspectives on 2 surveys released as official statistics on childcare and early years provision in England.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 20 December 2018

We are seeking views on the proposed early years assistant (level 2) criteria and their suitability for qualifications in early education and childcare.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 26 July 2018

We invite views on proposed changes to when childcare workers are disqualified from working in schools and non-domestic settings.

• From: Department for Education
• Updated: 2 July 2018