Part 1General functions of local authority: England

Interpretation

I118Meaning of childcare

1

This section applies for the purposes of this Part and Part 3.

2

Childcare” means any form of care for a child and, subject to subsection (3), care includes—

a

education for a child, and

b

any other supervised activity for a child.

3

Childcare” does not include—

a

education (or any other supervised activity) provided by a school during school hours for a registered pupil who is not a young child, or

b

any form of health care for a child.

4

Childcare” does not include care provided for a child by—

a

a parent or step-parent of the child;

b

a person with parental responsibility for the child;

c

a relative of the child;

d

a person who is a local authority foster parent in relation to the child;

e

a person who is a foster parent with whom the child has been placed by a voluntary organisation;

f

a person who fosters the child privately.

5

Childcare” does not include care provided for a child if the care—

a

is provided in any of the following establishments as part of the establishment's activities—

F6i

a children's home in respect of which a person is registered under Part 2 of the Care Standards Act 2000,

ii

a care home,

iii

a hospital in which the child is a patient,

iv

a residential family centre, and

b

is so provided by the person carrying on the establishment or a person employed to work at the establishment.

6

The reference in subsection (5)(b) to a person who is employed includes a reference to a person who is employed under a contract for services.

7

Childcare” does not include care provided for a child who is detained in—

a

a young offender institution, F3...

b

a secure training centre F5, or

F4c

a secure college.

8

In this section—

a

F7... “local authority foster parent”, “to foster a child privately” and “voluntary organisation” have the same meaning as in the Children Act 1989 (c. 41);

b

care home”, F8“children's home”F2... and “residential family centre” have the same meaning as in the Care Standards Act 2000 (c. 14);

F1ba

“hospital” has the meaning given by section 275 of the National Health Service Act 2006.

c

relative”, in relation to a child, means a grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother or sister, whether of the full blood or half blood or by marriage or civil partnership.