S. 6 in force at 1.4.2008 by S.I. 2008/785, art. 2(b)

S. 7 in force at 1.4.2008 for specified purposes by S.I. 2008/785, art. 2(a)

S. 8 in force at 1.10.2007 by S.I. 2007/2717, art. 2(a)

S. 9 in force at 1.10.2007 by S.I. 2007/2717, art. 2(a)

S. 10 in force at 1.10.2007 by S.I. 2007/2717, art. 2(a)

S. 11 in force at 20.12.2006 for specified purposes by S.I. 2006/3360, art. 2(a)

S. 11 in force at 1.4.2007 in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2007/1019, art. 3

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/21/part/1/crossheading/provision-of-childcare/2008-04-01Childcare Act 2006An Act to make provision about the powers and duties of local authorities and other bodies in England in relation to the improvement of the well-being of young children; to make provision about the powers and duties of local authorities in England and Wales in relation to the provision of childcare and the provision of information to parents and other persons; to make provision about the regulation and inspection of childcare provision in England; to amend Part 10A of the Children Act 1989 in relation to Wales; and for connected purposes.texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2024-05-18Expert Participation2008-04-01Part 1General functions of local authority: EnglandProvision of childcare
6Duty to secure sufficient childcare for working parents(1)

An English local authority must secure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the provision of childcare (whether or not by them) is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents in their area who require childcare in order to enable them—

(a)

to take up, or remain in, work, or

(b)

to undertake education or training which could reasonably be expected to assist them to obtain work.

(2)

In determining for the purposes of subsection (1) whether the provision of childcare is sufficient to meet those requirements, a local authority—

(a)

must have regard to the needs of parents in their area for—

(i)

the provision of childcare in respect of which the child care element of working tax credit is payable, and

(ii)

the provision of childcare which is suitable for disabled children, and

(b)

may have regard to any childcare which they expect to be available outside their area.

(3)

In discharging their duty under subsection (1), a local authority must have regard to any guidance given from time to time by the Secretary of State.

(4)

The Secretary of State may by order amend subsection (2) (and subsection (6) so far as relating to that subsection) so as to modify the matters to which a local authority must or may have regard in determining whether the provision of childcare is sufficient.

(5)

Except in relation to a disabled child, this section does not apply in relation to childcare for a child on or after the 1st September next following the date on which he attains the age of 14.

(6)

In this section—

child care element”, in relation to working tax credit, is to be read in accordance with section 12 of the Tax Credits Act 2002 (c. 21);

disabled child” means a child who has a disability for the purposes of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (c. 50);

parent” includes any individual who—

(a)

has parental responsibility for a child, or

(b)

has care of a child.

7Duty to secure prescribed early years provision free of charge(1)

An English local authority must secure that early years provision of a prescribed description is available free of charge for such periods as may be prescribed for each young child in their area who—

(a)

has attained such age as may be prescribed, but

(b)

is under compulsory school age.

(2)

In discharging their duty under subsection (1), a local authority must have regard to any guidance given from time to time by the Secretary of State.

8Powers of local authority in relation to the provision of childcare(1)

An English local authority may—

(a)

assist any person who provides or proposes to provide childcare;

(b)

make arrangements with any other person for the provision of childcare;

(c)

subject to subsection (3), provide childcare.

(2)

The assistance which a local authority may give under subsection (1)(a) includes financial assistance; and the arrangements which a local authority may make under subsection (1)(b) include arrangements involving the provision of financial assistance by the authority.

(3)

An English local authority may not provide childcare for a particular child or group of children unless the local authority are satisfied—

(a)

that no other person is willing to provide the childcare (whether in pursuance of arrangements made with the authority or otherwise), or

(b)

if another person is willing to do so, that in the circumstances it is appropriate for the local authority to provide the childcare.

(4)

Subsection (3) does not affect the provision of childcare by the governing body of a maintained school.

(5)

Subsection (3) does not apply in relation to the provision of childcare under section 18(1) or (5) of the Children Act 1989 (c. 41) (day care for children in need).

(6)

In exercising their functions under this section, an English local authority must have regard to any guidance given from time to time by the Secretary of State.

9Arrangements between local authority and childcare providers(1)

This section applies where an English local authority make arrangements with a person (other than the governing body of a maintained school) for the provision by that person of childcare in consideration of financial assistance provided by the authority under the arrangements.

(2)

The local authority must exercise their functions with a view to securing that the provider of the childcare meets any requirements imposed on him by the arrangements.

(3)

The requirements imposed by the arrangements may, in particular, if any specified conditions are not satisfied, require the repayment of the whole or any part of any financial assistance provided by the local authority under the arrangements.

10Charges where local authority provide childcare(1)

An English local authority may enter into an agreement under which payments are made to the authority for the provision by the authority of childcare for a child.

(2)

Subsection (1) does not apply—

(a)

to childcare provided in pursuance of the duty imposed by section 7, or

(b)

to childcare provided under section 18(1) or (5) of the Children Act 1989 (c. 41) (day care for children in need), provision as to charges for such care being made by section 29 of that Act.

11Duty to assess childcare provision(1)

An English local authority must prepare assessments of the sufficiency of the provision of childcare (whether or not by them) in their area (“childcare assessments”).

(2)

The first childcare assessment must be prepared before the end of the period of one year beginning with the commencement of this section.

(3)

Subsequent childcare assessments must be prepared at intervals not exceeding three years.

(4)

The authority must keep a childcare assessment prepared by them under review until the childcare assessment is superseded by a further childcare assessment.

(5)

Regulations may make provision requiring a childcare assessment—

(a)

to deal with prescribed matters or be prepared according to prescribed criteria;

(b)

to be in the prescribed form;

(c)

to be published in the prescribed manner.

(6)

In preparing a childcare assessment and keeping it under review, an English local authority must—

(a)

consult such persons, or persons of such a description, as may be prescribed, and

(b)

have regard to any guidance given from time to time by the Secretary of State.

(7)

Subsection (5) of section 6 applies for the purposes of this section as it applies for the purposes of that section.

This XML file does not appear to have any style information associated with it. The document tree is shown below.
<akomaNtoso xmlns:uk="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/namespaces/UK-AKN" xmlns:ukl="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/namespaces/legislation" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0" xsi:schemaLocation="http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/ns/akn/3.0 http://docs.oasis-open.org/legaldocml/akn-core/v1.0/cos01/part2-specs/schemas/akomantoso30.xsd">
<act name="ukpga">
<meta>
<identification source="#">
<FRBRWork>
<FRBRthis value="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2006/21"/>
<FRBRuri value="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2006/21"/>
<FRBRdate date="2006-07-11" name="enacted"/>
<FRBRauthor href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/legislature/UnitedKingdomParliament"/>
<FRBRcountry value="GB-UKM"/>
<FRBRnumber value="21"/>
<FRBRname value="2006 c. 21"/>
<FRBRprescriptive value="true"/>
</FRBRWork>
<FRBRExpression>
<FRBRthis value="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/21/2008-04-01"/>
<FRBRuri value="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/21/2008-04-01"/>
<FRBRdate date="2008-04-01" name="validFrom"/>
<FRBRauthor href="#"/>
<FRBRlanguage language="eng"/>
</FRBRExpression>
<FRBRManifestation>
<FRBRthis value="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/21/2008-04-01/data.akn"/>
<FRBRuri value="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/21/2008-04-01/data.akn"/>
<FRBRdate date="2024-11-26Z" name="transform"/>
<FRBRauthor href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk"/>
<FRBRformat value="application/akn+xml"/>
</FRBRManifestation>
</identification>
<lifecycle source="#">
<eventRef refersTo="#enactment" date="2006-07-11" eId="date-enacted" source="#"/>
<eventRef date="2007-04-01" eId="date-2007-04-01" source="#"/>
<eventRef date="2007-10-01" eId="date-2007-10-01" source="#"/>
<eventRef date="2008-04-01" eId="date-2008-04-01" source="#"/>
<eventRef date="2008-05-19" eId="date-2008-05-19" source="#"/>
<eventRef date="2008-09-01" eId="date-2008-09-01" source="#"/>
<eventRef date="2010-10-01" eId="date-2010-10-01" source="#"/>
<eventRef date="2014-05-13" eId="date-2014-05-13" source="#"/>
<eventRef date="2023-12-26" eId="date-2023-12-26" source="#"/>
</lifecycle>
<analysis source="#">
<restrictions source="#">
<restriction refersTo="#extent-e+w" type="jurisdiction"/>
<restriction href="#part-1" refersTo="#extent-e+w" type="jurisdiction"/>
<restriction href="#part-1-crossheading-provision-of-childcare" refersTo="#extent-e+w" type="jurisdiction"/>
<restriction href="#section-7" refersTo="#extent-e+w" type="jurisdiction"/>
<restriction href="#section-8" refersTo="#extent-e+w" type="jurisdiction"/>
<restriction href="#section-8-3" refersTo="#extent-e+w" type="jurisdiction"/>
<restriction href="#section-8-4" refersTo="#extent-e+w" type="jurisdiction"/>
<restriction href="#section-8-5" refersTo="#extent-e+w" type="jurisdiction"/>
<restriction refersTo="#period-from-2008-04-01-to-2008-05-19" type="jurisdiction"/>
<restriction href="#body" refersTo="#period-from-2008-04-01-to-2008-09-01" type="jurisdiction"/>
<restriction href="#part-1" refersTo="#period-from-2008-04-01-to-2008-09-01" type="jurisdiction"/>
<restriction href="#part-1-crossheading-provision-of-childcare" refersTo="#period-from-2008-04-01-to-2008-09-01" type="jurisdiction"/>
<restriction href="#section-6" refersTo="#period-from-2008-04-01-to-2010-10-01" type="jurisdiction"/>
<restriction href="#section-7" refersTo="#period-from-2008-04-01-to-2008-09-01" type="jurisdiction"/>
<restriction href="#section-8" refersTo="#period-from-2007-10-01-to-2023-12-26" type="jurisdiction"/>
<restriction href="#section-8-3" refersTo="#period-to-2023-12-26" type="jurisdiction"/>
<restriction href="#section-8-4" refersTo="#period-to-2023-12-26" type="jurisdiction"/>
<restriction href="#section-8-5" refersTo="#period-to-2023-12-26" type="jurisdiction"/>
<restriction href="#section-9" refersTo="#period-from-2007-10-01" type="jurisdiction"/>
<restriction href="#section-10" refersTo="#period-from-2007-10-01" type="jurisdiction"/>
<restriction href="#section-11" refersTo="#period-from-2007-04-01-to-2014-05-13" type="jurisdiction"/>
</restrictions>
<otherAnalysis source="">
<uk:confersPower href="#section-6" value="true"/>
<uk:confersPower href="#section-7" value="true"/>
<uk:confersPower href="#section-11" value="true"/>
<uk:commentary href="#section-6" refersTo="#key-472c13e7d94ce17981fc3cd47c3d8056"/>
<uk:commentary href="#section-7" refersTo="#key-e85777d091b31b48d017016c902a47bb"/>
<uk:commentary href="#section-8" refersTo="#key-9eba13261e53b613b030b9933083dc52"/>
<uk:commentary href="#section-9" refersTo="#key-120ce9d6ca1acec8783d3ecba978f789"/>
<uk:commentary href="#section-10" refersTo="#key-ce8974eb1d9437f91a1f545fe6604460"/>
<uk:commentary href="#section-11" refersTo="#key-9b07e73ad1211258ece75435e58cc06a"/>
<uk:commentary href="#section-11" refersTo="#key-551d3d825dba136feca2b30fb20d436e"/>
</otherAnalysis>
</analysis>
<temporalData source="#">
<temporalGroup eId="period-to-2023-12-26">
<timeInterval end="#date-2023-12-26" refersTo="#"/>
</temporalGroup>
<temporalGroup eId="period-from-2007-04-01-to-2014-05-13">
<timeInterval start="#date-2007-04-01" end="#date-2014-05-13" refersTo="#"/>
</temporalGroup>
<temporalGroup eId="period-from-2007-10-01">
<timeInterval start="#date-2007-10-01" refersTo="#"/>
</temporalGroup>
<temporalGroup eId="period-from-2007-10-01-to-2023-12-26">
<timeInterval start="#date-2007-10-01" end="#date-2023-12-26" refersTo="#"/>
</temporalGroup>
<temporalGroup eId="period-from-2008-04-01-to-2008-05-19">
<timeInterval start="#date-2008-04-01" end="#date-2008-05-19" refersTo="#"/>
</temporalGroup>
<temporalGroup eId="period-from-2008-04-01-to-2008-09-01">
<timeInterval start="#date-2008-04-01" end="#date-2008-09-01" refersTo="#"/>
</temporalGroup>
<temporalGroup eId="period-from-2008-04-01-to-2010-10-01">
<timeInterval start="#date-2008-04-01" end="#date-2010-10-01" refersTo="#"/>
</temporalGroup>
</temporalData>
<references source="#">
<TLCEvent eId="enactment" href="" showAs="EnactmentDate"/>
<TLCLocation eId="extent-e+w" href="" showAs="E+W"/>
</references>
<notes source="#">
<note ukl:Name="Commentary" ukl:Type="I" class="commentary I" eId="key-472c13e7d94ce17981fc3cd47c3d8056" marker="I1">
<p>
S. 6 in force at 1.4.2008 by
<ref eId="csd5uxs91-00053" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2008/785">S.I. 2008/785</ref>
,
<ref eId="csd5uxs91-00054" class="subref operative" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2008/785/article/2/b">art. 2(b)</ref>
</p>
</note>
<note ukl:Name="Commentary" ukl:Type="I" class="commentary I" eId="key-e85777d091b31b48d017016c902a47bb" marker="I2">
<p>
<ref eId="csd5uxs91-00061" class="subref" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2006/21/section/7">S. 7</ref>
in force at 1.4.2008 for specified purposes by
<ref eId="csd5uxs91-00062" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2008/785">S.I. 2008/785</ref>
,
<ref eId="csd5uxs91-00063" class="subref operative" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2008/785/article/2/a">art. 2(a)</ref>
</p>
</note>
<note ukl:Name="Commentary" ukl:Type="I" class="commentary I" eId="key-9eba13261e53b613b030b9933083dc52" marker="I3">
<p>
<ref eId="csd5rqc11-00007" class="subref" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2006/21/section/8">S. 8</ref>
in force at 1.10.2007 by
<ref eId="csd5rqc11-00008" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2007/2717">S.I. 2007/2717</ref>
,
<ref eId="csd5rqc11-00009" class="subref operative" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2007/2717/article/2/a">art. 2(a)</ref>
</p>
</note>
<note ukl:Name="Commentary" ukl:Type="I" class="commentary I" eId="key-120ce9d6ca1acec8783d3ecba978f789" marker="I4">
<p>
<ref eId="csd5rqc11-00016" class="subref" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2006/21/section/9">S. 9</ref>
in force at 1.10.2007 by
<ref eId="csd5rqc11-00017" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2007/2717">S.I. 2007/2717</ref>
,
<ref eId="csd5rqc11-00018" class="subref operative" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2007/2717/article/2/a">art. 2(a)</ref>
</p>
</note>
<note ukl:Name="Commentary" ukl:Type="I" class="commentary I" eId="key-ce8974eb1d9437f91a1f545fe6604460" marker="I5">
<p>
<ref eId="csd5rqc11-00025" class="subref" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2006/21/section/10">S. 10</ref>
in force at 1.10.2007 by
<ref eId="csd5rqc11-00026" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2007/2717">S.I. 2007/2717</ref>
,
<ref eId="csd5rqc11-00027" class="subref operative" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2007/2717/article/2/a">art. 2(a)</ref>
</p>
</note>
<note ukl:Name="Commentary" ukl:Type="I" class="commentary I" eId="key-9b07e73ad1211258ece75435e58cc06a" marker="I6">
<p>
<ref eId="csd2fp1n1-00016" class="subref" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2006/21/section/11">S. 11</ref>
in force at 20.12.2006 for specified purposes by
<ref eId="csd2fp1n1-00017" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/3360">S.I. 2006/3360</ref>
,
<ref eId="csd2fp1n1-00018" class="subref operative" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2006/3360/article/2/a">art. 2(a)</ref>
</p>
</note>
<note ukl:Name="Commentary" ukl:Type="I" class="commentary I" eId="key-551d3d825dba136feca2b30fb20d436e" marker="I7">
<p>
<ref eId="csd2ia9x1-00165" class="subref" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2006/21/section/11">S. 11</ref>
in force at 1.4.2007 in so far as not already in force by
<ref eId="csd2ia9x1-00166" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2007/1019">S.I. 2007/1019</ref>
,
<ref eId="csd2ia9x1-00167" class="subref operative" href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2007/1019/article/3">art. 3</ref>
</p>
</note>
</notes>
<proprietary xmlns:ukm="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/namespaces/metadata" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:dct="http://purl.org/dc/terms/" source="#">
<dc:identifier>http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/21/part/1/crossheading/provision-of-childcare/2008-04-01</dc:identifier>
<dc:title>Childcare Act 2006</dc:title>
<dc:description>An Act to make provision about the powers and duties of local authorities and other bodies in England in relation to the improvement of the well-being of young children; to make provision about the powers and duties of local authorities in England and Wales in relation to the provision of childcare and the provision of information to parents and other persons; to make provision about the regulation and inspection of childcare provision in England; to amend Part 10A of the Children Act 1989 in relation to Wales; and for connected purposes.</dc:description>
<dc:type>text</dc:type>
<dc:format>text/xml</dc:format>
<dc:language>en</dc:language>
<dc:publisher>Statute Law Database</dc:publisher>
<dc:modified>2024-05-18</dc:modified>
<dc:contributor>Expert Participation</dc:contributor>
<dct:valid>2008-04-01</dct:valid>
<ukm:PrimaryMetadata>
<ukm:DocumentClassification>
<ukm:DocumentCategory Value="primary"/>
<ukm:DocumentMainType Value="UnitedKingdomPublicGeneralAct"/>
<ukm:DocumentStatus Value="revised"/>
</ukm:DocumentClassification>
<ukm:Year Value="2006"/>
<ukm:Number Value="21"/>
<ukm:EnactmentDate Date="2006-07-11"/>
<ukm:ISBN Value="0105421065"/>
</ukm:PrimaryMetadata>
<ukm:Notes>
<ukm:Note IdURI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2006/21/notes"/>
<ukm:Alternatives>
<ukm:Alternative Date="2008-03-03" URI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/21/pdfs/ukpgaen_20060021_en.pdf" Title="Explanatory Note"/>
</ukm:Alternatives>
</ukm:Notes>
<ukm:Alternatives>
<ukm:Alternative Date="2008-03-03" URI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/21/pdfs/ukpga_20060021_en.pdf" Title="Print Version"/>
</ukm:Alternatives>
<ukm:Statistics>
<ukm:TotalParagraphs Value="209"/>
<ukm:BodyParagraphs Value="111"/>
<ukm:ScheduleParagraphs Value="98"/>
<ukm:AttachmentParagraphs Value="0"/>
<ukm:TotalImages Value="0"/>
</ukm:Statistics>
</proprietary>
</meta>
<body eId="body">
<part eId="part-1">
<num>
<b>Part 1</b>
</num>
<heading>General functions of local authority: England</heading>
<hcontainer name="crossheading" ukl:Name="Pblock" eId="part-1-crossheading-provision-of-childcare" uk:target="true">
<heading>
<i>Provision of childcare</i>
</heading>
<section eId="section-6">
<num>6</num>
<heading>Duty to secure sufficient childcare for working parents</heading>
<subsection eId="section-6-1">
<num>(1)</num>
<intro>
<p>An English local authority must secure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the provision of childcare (whether or not by them) is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents in their area who require childcare in order to enable them—</p>
</intro>
<level class="para1" eId="section-6-1-a">
<num>(a)</num>
<content>
<p>to take up, or remain in, work, or</p>
</content>
</level>
<level class="para1" eId="section-6-1-b">
<num>(b)</num>
<content>
<p>to undertake education or training which could reasonably be expected to assist them to obtain work.</p>
</content>
</level>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-6-2">
<num>(2)</num>
<intro>
<p>In determining for the purposes of subsection (1) whether the provision of childcare is sufficient to meet those requirements, a local authority—</p>
</intro>
<level class="para1" eId="section-6-2-a">
<num>(a)</num>
<intro>
<p>must have regard to the needs of parents in their area for—</p>
</intro>
<level class="para2" eId="section-6-2-a-i">
<num>(i)</num>
<content>
<p>the provision of childcare in respect of which the child care element of working tax credit is payable, and</p>
</content>
</level>
<level class="para2" eId="section-6-2-a-ii">
<num>(ii)</num>
<content>
<p>the provision of childcare which is suitable for disabled children, and</p>
</content>
</level>
</level>
<level class="para1" eId="section-6-2-b">
<num>(b)</num>
<content>
<p>may have regard to any childcare which they expect to be available outside their area.</p>
</content>
</level>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-6-3">
<num>(3)</num>
<content>
<p>In discharging their duty under subsection (1), a local authority must have regard to any guidance given from time to time by the Secretary of State.</p>
</content>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-6-4">
<num>(4)</num>
<content>
<p>The Secretary of State may by order amend subsection (2) (and subsection (6) so far as relating to that subsection) so as to modify the matters to which a local authority must or may have regard in determining whether the provision of childcare is sufficient.</p>
</content>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-6-5">
<num>(5)</num>
<content>
<p>Except in relation to a disabled child, this section does not apply in relation to childcare for a child on or after the 1st September next following the date on which he attains the age of 14.</p>
</content>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-6-6">
<num>(6)</num>
<intro>
<p>In this section—</p>
</intro>
<hcontainer name="definition">
<content>
<p>
<term refersTo="#term-child-care-element" eId="term-child-care-element">child care element</term>
”, in relation to working tax credit, is to be read in accordance with section 12 of the Tax Credits Act 2002 (c. 21);
</p>
</content>
</hcontainer>
<hcontainer name="definition">
<content>
<p>
<term refersTo="#term-disabled-child" eId="term-disabled-child">disabled child</term>
” means a child who has a disability for the purposes of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (c. 50);
</p>
</content>
</hcontainer>
<hcontainer name="definition">
<intro>
<p>
<term refersTo="#term-parent" eId="term-parent">parent</term>
” includes any individual who—
</p>
</intro>
<level class="para1">
<num>(a)</num>
<content>
<p>has parental responsibility for a child, or</p>
</content>
</level>
<level class="para1">
<num>(b)</num>
<content>
<p>has care of a child.</p>
</content>
</level>
</hcontainer>
</subsection>
</section>
<section eId="section-7">
<num>7</num>
<heading>Duty to secure prescribed early years provision free of charge</heading>
<subsection eId="section-7-1">
<num>(1)</num>
<intro>
<p>An English local authority must secure that early years provision of a prescribed description is available free of charge for such periods as may be prescribed for each young child in their area who—</p>
</intro>
<level class="para1" eId="section-7-1-a">
<num>(a)</num>
<content>
<p>has attained such age as may be prescribed, but</p>
</content>
</level>
<level class="para1" eId="section-7-1-b">
<num>(b)</num>
<content>
<p>is under compulsory school age.</p>
</content>
</level>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-7-2">
<num>(2)</num>
<content>
<p>In discharging their duty under subsection (1), a local authority must have regard to any guidance given from time to time by the Secretary of State.</p>
</content>
</subsection>
</section>
<section eId="section-8">
<num>8</num>
<heading>Powers of local authority in relation to the provision of childcare</heading>
<subsection eId="section-8-1">
<num>(1)</num>
<intro>
<p>An English local authority may—</p>
</intro>
<level class="para1" eId="section-8-1-a">
<num>(a)</num>
<content>
<p>assist any person who provides or proposes to provide childcare;</p>
</content>
</level>
<level class="para1" eId="section-8-1-b">
<num>(b)</num>
<content>
<p>make arrangements with any other person for the provision of childcare;</p>
</content>
</level>
<level class="para1" eId="section-8-1-c">
<num>(c)</num>
<content>
<p>subject to subsection (3), provide childcare.</p>
</content>
</level>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-8-2">
<num>(2)</num>
<content>
<p>The assistance which a local authority may give under subsection (1)(a) includes financial assistance; and the arrangements which a local authority may make under subsection (1)(b) include arrangements involving the provision of financial assistance by the authority.</p>
</content>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-8-3">
<num>(3)</num>
<intro>
<p>An English local authority may not provide childcare for a particular child or group of children unless the local authority are satisfied—</p>
</intro>
<level class="para1" eId="section-8-3-a">
<num>(a)</num>
<content>
<p>that no other person is willing to provide the childcare (whether in pursuance of arrangements made with the authority or otherwise), or</p>
</content>
</level>
<level class="para1" eId="section-8-3-b">
<num>(b)</num>
<content>
<p>if another person is willing to do so, that in the circumstances it is appropriate for the local authority to provide the childcare.</p>
</content>
</level>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-8-4">
<num>(4)</num>
<content>
<p>Subsection (3) does not affect the provision of childcare by the governing body of a maintained school.</p>
</content>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-8-5">
<num>(5)</num>
<content>
<p>Subsection (3) does not apply in relation to the provision of childcare under section 18(1) or (5) of the Children Act 1989 (c. 41) (day care for children in need).</p>
</content>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-8-6">
<num>(6)</num>
<content>
<p>In exercising their functions under this section, an English local authority must have regard to any guidance given from time to time by the Secretary of State.</p>
</content>
</subsection>
</section>
<section eId="section-9">
<num>9</num>
<heading>Arrangements between local authority and childcare providers</heading>
<subsection eId="section-9-1">
<num>(1)</num>
<content>
<p>This section applies where an English local authority make arrangements with a person (other than the governing body of a maintained school) for the provision by that person of childcare in consideration of financial assistance provided by the authority under the arrangements.</p>
</content>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-9-2">
<num>(2)</num>
<content>
<p>The local authority must exercise their functions with a view to securing that the provider of the childcare meets any requirements imposed on him by the arrangements.</p>
</content>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-9-3">
<num>(3)</num>
<content>
<p>The requirements imposed by the arrangements may, in particular, if any specified conditions are not satisfied, require the repayment of the whole or any part of any financial assistance provided by the local authority under the arrangements.</p>
</content>
</subsection>
</section>
<section eId="section-10">
<num>10</num>
<heading>Charges where local authority provide childcare</heading>
<subsection eId="section-10-1">
<num>(1)</num>
<content>
<p>An English local authority may enter into an agreement under which payments are made to the authority for the provision by the authority of childcare for a child.</p>
</content>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-10-2">
<num>(2)</num>
<intro>
<p>Subsection (1) does not apply—</p>
</intro>
<level class="para1" eId="section-10-2-a">
<num>(a)</num>
<content>
<p>to childcare provided in pursuance of the duty imposed by section 7, or</p>
</content>
</level>
<level class="para1" eId="section-10-2-b">
<num>(b)</num>
<content>
<p>to childcare provided under section 18(1) or (5) of the Children Act 1989 (c. 41) (day care for children in need), provision as to charges for such care being made by section 29 of that Act.</p>
</content>
</level>
</subsection>
</section>
<section eId="section-11">
<num>11</num>
<heading>Duty to assess childcare provision</heading>
<subsection eId="section-11-1">
<num>(1)</num>
<content>
<p>An English local authority must prepare assessments of the sufficiency of the provision of childcare (whether or not by them) in their area (“childcare assessments”).</p>
</content>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-11-2">
<num>(2)</num>
<content>
<p>The first childcare assessment must be prepared before the end of the period of one year beginning with the commencement of this section.</p>
</content>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-11-3">
<num>(3)</num>
<content>
<p>Subsequent childcare assessments must be prepared at intervals not exceeding three years.</p>
</content>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-11-4">
<num>(4)</num>
<content>
<p>The authority must keep a childcare assessment prepared by them under review until the childcare assessment is superseded by a further childcare assessment.</p>
</content>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-11-5">
<num>(5)</num>
<intro>
<p>Regulations may make provision requiring a childcare assessment—</p>
</intro>
<level class="para1" eId="section-11-5-a">
<num>(a)</num>
<content>
<p>to deal with prescribed matters or be prepared according to prescribed criteria;</p>
</content>
</level>
<level class="para1" eId="section-11-5-b">
<num>(b)</num>
<content>
<p>to be in the prescribed form;</p>
</content>
</level>
<level class="para1" eId="section-11-5-c">
<num>(c)</num>
<content>
<p>to be published in the prescribed manner.</p>
</content>
</level>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-11-6">
<num>(6)</num>
<intro>
<p>In preparing a childcare assessment and keeping it under review, an English local authority must—</p>
</intro>
<level class="para1" eId="section-11-6-a">
<num>(a)</num>
<content>
<p>consult such persons, or persons of such a description, as may be prescribed, and</p>
</content>
</level>
<level class="para1" eId="section-11-6-b">
<num>(b)</num>
<content>
<p>have regard to any guidance given from time to time by the Secretary of State.</p>
</content>
</level>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-11-7">
<num>(7)</num>
<content>
<p>Subsection (5) of section 6 applies for the purposes of this section as it applies for the purposes of that section.</p>
</content>
</subsection>
</section>
</hcontainer>
</part>
</body>
</act>
</akomaNtoso>