All registered childcare providers are regularly checked, assessed and inspected by Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education), who are responsible for the reviewing of childcare facilities for children under the age of eight. All providers have to meet national standards.
Reports are produced by Ofsted following an inspection, which provide detailed information such as how good the care is and what needs improving. These reports are available from Ofsted and you can also ask to see a childcare provider’s report when you visit the provider.
In addition to Ofsted, when you are looking for childcare look for providers with an Investor’s in Children Quality Assurance accreditation, which shows that they have a commitment to quality childcare of a high standard.
This accreditation is gained by being regularly monitored to ensure they are operating above the minimum standards set out by Ofsted.
In section 12 (5) of the Childcare Act all local authorities are required to provide advice and assistance to parents or prospective parents who use or propose to use childcare in the area
Oldham Family Information Service (FIS) keeps a record of all registered childcare providers in the Oldham area, as well as childcare vacancies. A database is used to do a personalised search to meet your needs. For example if you needed a childminder, located in Failsworth who can drop off and collect your children from a particular school – this information will be entered into the system to help you find one that matches your requirements.
Further assistance can be offered to parents who have attempted to find suitable childcare without success and to those who might find it hard to access the help they need. This is delivered through a brokerage system.
Oldham FIS is a free, impartial service that is available to anyone who needs childcare in Oldham. All the Information Workers are friendly, helpful and highly trained and will give you professional advice and assistance on finding the best solution to your childcare needs. You can access their service in four ways; by phone, by fax, in person, by e-mail or online - please visit the contact us page for further details.
If you are unsure about the different types of childcare that are available to you, then why not check out the guide to childcare and the options available. With the grants that are currently available such as the childcare element of the Working Tax Credit and The Nursery Education Grant, you may also be able to get help with your childcare costs.
Under the Childcare Act 2006, every local authority must carry out a Childcare Sufficiency Assessment (CSA) to see if the level of childcare provision meets the needs of working parents (as far as is reasonably practical).
Oldham's CSA was led by the council's Early Years and Childcare Service, under the guidance of Oldham's Childcare Action Partnership (CAP), and involved a range of partners and stakeholders. Parents, employers and other key stakeholders were involved with the consultations for the assessment, which was used to create the report's outcomes and recommendations.
The backdrop to the Childcare Sufficiency Assessment is the council’s economic and regeneration strategy, underpinned by corporate aspirations to reduce disadvantage. It is expected that the improved information and local intelligence gained from the exercise over time, will result in more effective planning and management of childcare and thus contribute to improving the local employment profile and affluence of the borough. Key information gained from the CSA will help to form a childcare strategy for Oldham.
Please follow the link to view a copy of the Childcare Sufficiency Assessment.