Ofsted has removed the EY3 (Report changes to registered people in a nursery or other daycare) form to make it easier for providers to notify of changes. The change was introduced to help reduce the administrative burden on early years and childcare providers. If there is a change in your setting, email Ofsted at enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk  from the email address connected to your Ofsted registration. When contacting Ofsted, make sure to include:

• 'Report association changes' as the subject line 
• Unique reference number (URN) 
• Association's name and date of birth 
• Proposed change (if the association is joining or leaving the organisation) 
• Date the change(s) take effect 
• Role and any changes of the individual(s)

There has been an update on 1 May 2024 to the guidance on DBS checks for childminders and childcare workers. An updated email address has been added to the ID checking form. Please see link below to updated guidance.

Ofsted have recognised the excellent work of childminders. Thanked Childminders for all they do to give families much-needed flexibility, and children the best start in life. Ofsted state: Incredibly 97% of Ofsted-registered childminders were rated good or outstanding at their last inspection. That’s the highest of any type of provision we inspect.

Celebrating childminders and welcoming change - Blog post by Lee Owston (National Director Education) and Yvette Stanley (National Director, Regulation and Social Care) to mark Childminding Week. It includes a video message from HMCI. 

The Do Something BIG recruitment campaign is ramping up again in early August. This multi-million-pound broadcast marketing campaign promotes early years and childcare careers on a national-scale across multiple advertising channels. It highlights the huge difference early years professionals make to young children and how rewarding working in the sector can be.   

The campaign directs potential applicants to use DWP’s Find a Job vacancy platform to search for early years roles in their area. Hounslow would advise listing any vacancies on Find a Job ahead of the next wave of the campaign. 

Please see below the ‘DWP Find a Job instructions’ which includes create an account and post any current or upcoming jobs

Providers should use the term ‘early years’ in the title of the job adverts and select ‘Education jobs’ for the job category. 

This service is free to use and will ensure vacancies are seen by a large pool of potential candidates.

We are aware that some parents are facing delays in obtaining or reconfirming HMRC codes for the 15 hours of childcare for working parents where their application requires additional manual checks. 

Please see the letter below regarding this issue.