Ofsted confirmed that it would start sending out letters to providers about the changes, to be introduced on 3 October, from Friday (23 September).
The regulations relate to the registration and inspection of under-eights daycare and childminding, and nursery education inspections. Changes include a new requirement for providers to respond to a written complaint by investigating and reporting findings to parents within 28 days.
Providers will also need to keep a record of any complaints.
Changes to the way that staff apply for CRB Disclosures will also be introduced. Ofsted will continue to carry out checks on the registered person and the person in charge, as well as childminders and those living in their household. But Ofsted will no longer carry out CRB checks for daycare staff, as these were previously duplicated by the checks employers make as part of the usual recruitment process.
Instead, three companies contracted by the DfES will countersign Disclosure applications, which will continue to be subsidised. The DfES has not yet named these organisations but said details would be sent to all providers and local authorities after 22 September.
Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association, said, 'Given the history of CRB checks and the problems experienced when they were first introduced, our members will be concerned that there is a smooth transition to the new scheme - in particular with regard to provision of an efficient service and quick turnaround times on applications. We are also concerned that day nurseries are only now being informed of the changes when they will come into effect within a very short space of time.'
