Children Act 1989

F1 79U Rights of entry etc. E+W

(1) [F2 Any person authorised for the purposes of this subsection by [F3 the Assembly]] may at any reasonable time enter any premises in F4 . . . Wales on which child minding or day care is at any time provided.

(2) Where [F5 a person who is authorised for the purposes of this subsection by [F3 the Assembly]] has reasonable cause to believe that a child is being looked after on any premises in contravention of this Part, he may enter those premises at any reasonable time.

[F6 (2A) Authorisation under subsection (1) or (2)—

(a) may be given for a particular occasion or period;

(b) may be given subject to conditions.]

(3) [F7 A person entering premises under this section may (subject to any conditions imposed under subsection (2A)(b))—]

(a) inspect the premises;

(b) inspect, and take copies of—

(i) any records kept by the person providing the child minding or day care; and

(ii) any other documents containing information relating to its provision;

(c) seize and remove any document or other material or thing found there which he has reasonable grounds to believe may be evidence of a failure to comply with any condition or requirement imposed by or under this Part;

(d) require any person to afford him such facilities and assistance with respect to matters within the person’s control as are necessary to enable him to exercise his powers under this section;

(e) take measurements and photographs or make recordings;

(f) inspect any children being looked after there, and the arrangements made for their welfare;

(g) interview in private the person providing the child minding or day care; and

(h) interview in private any person looking after children, or living or working, there who consents to be interviewed.

(4) [F8 Section 58 of the Education Act 2005] (inspection of computer records for purposes of Part I of that Act) shall apply for the purposes of subsection (3) as it applies for the purposes of Part I of that Act.

F9 (5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(6) A person exercising any power conferred by this section shall, if so required, produce some duly authenticated document showing his authority to do so.

(7) It shall be an offence wilfully to obstruct a person exercising any such power.

(8) Any person guilty of an offence under subsection (7) shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.

(9) In this section—

• F10 . . .

• “documents” and “records” each include information recorded in any form.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 79U inserted (2.7.2001 (E.) and 1.4.2002 (W.)) by 2000 c. 14, s. 79(1); S.I. 2001/2041, art. 2(1)(a) (with transitional provisions and savings in Sch.); S.I. 2002/920, art. 3(3)(b) (subject to transitional provisions in Schs. 1-3)

F2 Words in s. 79U(1) substituted (2.9.2002 for E. and 19.12.2002 for W.) by 2002 c. 32, s. 152, Sch. 13 para. 5(2) (with ss. 210(8), 214(4)); S.I. 2002/2002, art. 4; S.I. 2002/3185, art. 4, Sch. Pt. 1

F3 Words in Pt. XA substituted (1.9.2008) by Childcare Act 2006 (c. 21), ss. 103(1), 109, Sch. 2 para. 6; S.I. 2008/2261, art. 2 (with art. 3 Sch. 1 and art. 4 Sch. 2)

F4 Words in s. 79U(1) omitted (1.9.2008) by virtue of the Childcare Act 2006 (c. 21), ss. 103(1), 109, Sch. 2 para. 14 and repealed (1.9.2008 for E. and otherwise prosp.) by Childcare Act 2006 (c. 21), ss. 103(2), 109, Sch. 3 Pt. 2; S.I. 2008/2261, art. 2 (with art. 3 Sch. 1 and art. 4 Sch. 2)

F5 Words in s. 79U(2) substituted (2.9.2002 for E., 19.12.2002 for W.) by 2002 c. 32, s. 152, Sch. 13 para. 5(3) (with ss. 210(8), 214(4)); S.I. 2002/2002, art. 4; S.I. 2002/3185, art. 4, Sch. Pt. 1

F6 S. 79U(2A) inserted (2.9.2002 for E. and 19.12.2002 for W.) by 2002 c. 32, s. 152, Sch. 13 para. 5(4) (with ss. 210(8), 214(4)); S.I. 2002/2002, art. 4; S.I. 2002/3185, art. 4, Sch. Pt. 1

F7 Words in s. 79U(3) substituted (2.9.2002 for E. and 19.12.2002 for W.) by 2002 c. 32, s. 152, Sch. 13 para. 5(5) (with ss. 210(8), 214(4)); S.I. 2002/2002, art. 4; S.I. 2002/3185, art. 4, Sch. Pt. 1

F8 Words in s. 79U(4) substituted (3.10.2005 for E. and 1.9.2006 for W.) by Education Act 2005 (c. 18), s. 53, Sch. 7 para. 6 (with s. 119); S.I. 2005/2034, art. 6; S.I. 2006/1338, art. 3, Sch. 1

F9 S. 79U(5) repealed (2.9.2002 for E. and 19.12.2002 for W.) by 2002 c. 32, ss. 152, 215(2), Sch. 13 para. 5(6), Sch. 22 Pt. 3 (with ss. 210(8), 214(4)); S.I. 2002/2002, art. 4; S.I. 2002/3185, art. 4, Sch. Pt. 1

F10 S. 79U(9): definition of "authorised inspector" repealed (2.9.2002 for E. and 19.12.2002 for W.) by 2002 c. 32, s. 152, Sch. 13 para. 5(7), Sch. 22 Pt. 3 (with ss. 210(8), 214(4)); S.I. 2002/2002, art. 4; S.I. 2002/3185, art. 4, Sch. Pt. 1