Nursery World - Stamp of approval

The Early Years Directorate, a new division of Ofsted,is taking over regulation of nurseries from local authorities. Alison Mercer reports on the changes This autumn will see a radical overhaul of the way nurseries are regulated. Not only are the rules changing, but there will also be a new national organisation to oversee and enforce them - the Early Years Directorate, a division of the schools inspectorate, Ofsted. The Directorate takes over responsibility for registering new facilities from the beginning of July, and while it will be largely staffed by former local authority registration and inspection officers, to some extent the procedure will be as new to them as to the first-time nursery owner.

This autumn will see a radical overhaul of the way nurseries are regulated. Not only are the rules changing, but there will also be a new national organisation to oversee and enforce them - the Early Years Directorate, a division of the schools inspectorate, Ofsted. The Directorate takes over responsibility for registering new facilities from the beginning of July, and while it will be largely staffed by former local authority registration and inspection officers, to some extent the procedure will be as new to them as to the first-time nursery owner.

The Directorate will ensure that all nurseries across the country meet the same national standards for the first time, making life much easier for the existing nursery owner seeking to open up a new branch. Nurseries were previously regulated under the Children Act 1989 and associated guidance, by local authorities, each with their own differing interpretations of the Act. Nursery owners and managers have welcomed this move towards consistency.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included