Childcare Act 2006

[F1 5A Arrangements for provision of children's centres E+W

(1) Arrangements made by an English local authority under section 3(2) must, so far as is reasonably practicable, include arrangements for sufficient provision of children's centres to meet local need.

(2) “Local need” is the need of parents, prospective parents and young children in the authority's area.

(3) In determining what provision of children's centres is sufficient to meet local need, an authority may have regard to any children's centres—

(a) that are provided outside the authority's area, or

(b) that the authority expect to be provided outside their area.

(4) For the purposes of this Part and Part 3A a “children's centre” is a place, or a group of places—

(a) which is managed by or on behalf of, or under arrangements made with, an English local authority, with a view to securing that early childhood services in their area are made available in an integrated manner,

(b) through which each of the early childhood services is made available, and

(c) at which activities for young children are provided, whether by way of early years provision or otherwise.

(5) For the purposes of this section, a service is made available—

(a) by providing the service, or

(b) by providing advice and assistance to parents and prospective parents on gaining access to the service.

(6) Guidance given under section 3(6) in respect of arrangements made under section 3(2) by virtue of subsection (1) of this section may, in particular, relate to—

(a) circumstances in which any early childhood services should be made available through children's centres as mentioned in subsection (5)(a);

(b) circumstances in which any early childhood services should be made available through children's centres as mentioned in subsection (5)(b).

(7) A children's centre provided by virtue of arrangements made by an English local authority under section 3(2) is to be known as a Sure Start Children's Centre.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 5A-5G and cross-heading inserted (12.1.2010) by Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (c. 22), ss. 198, 269(2)