Childcare Act 2006

[F1 Inspections E+W

Textual Amendments

F1 Pt. 3 Ch. 2A inserted (1.4.2014 for specified purposes, 1.9.2014 in so far as not already in force) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), s. 139(6), Sch. 4 para. 13; S.I. 2014/889, arts. 3(m), 7(e)

51D Inspections of early years childminder agencies E+W

(1) The Chief Inspector—

(a) must inspect an early years childminder agency at any time when the Secretary of State requires the Chief Inspector to secure its inspection, and

(b) may inspect an early years childminder agency at any other time when the Chief Inspector considers that it would be appropriate for it to be inspected.

(2) For the purposes of an inspection under this section, the Chief Inspector may inspect early years provision provided by early years providers who are registered with the early years childminder agency for the purposes of Chapter 2.

(3) The Chief Inspector may charge a prescribed fee for conducting an inspection of an early years childminder agency where—

(a) the inspection is conducted at the request of the agency, and

(b) the Chief Inspector is required by the Secretary of State under subsection (1)(a) to conduct that inspection.

(4) Regulations may make provision requiring an early years childminder agency to notify prescribed persons of the fact that it is to be inspected under this section.

51E Reports of inspections E+W

(1) After conducting an inspection under section 51D, the Chief Inspector must make a report in writing on—

(a) the quality and standards of the services offered by the early years childminder agency to early years providers registered with it,

(b) the quality of leadership and management in the early years childminder agency, and

(c) the effectiveness of the arrangements of the early years childminder agency for assuring itself of the quality of the care and education provided by the early years providers registered with it.

(2) The Chief Inspector—

(a) may send a copy of the report to the Secretary of State and must do so without delay if the Secretary of State requests a copy,

(b) must ensure that a copy of the report is sent without delay to the early years childminder agency,

(c) must ensure that copies of the report, or such parts of it as the Chief Inspector considers appropriate, are sent to such other persons as may be prescribed, and

(d) may arrange for the report (or parts of it) to be further published in any manner the Chief Inspector considers appropriate.

(3) Regulations may make provision—

(a) requiring the early years childminder agency to make a copy of any report sent to it under subsection (2)(b) available for inspection by prescribed persons;

(b) requiring the agency, except in prescribed cases, to provide a copy of the report to prescribed persons;

(c) authorising the agency in prescribed cases to charge a fee for providing a copy of the report.]