333.This section gives effect to Schedule 4, which amends the Childcare Act 2006 (“the CA 2006”) to provide for the registration of childminder agencies on the childcare registers maintained by the Chief Inspector. It also provides for the registration of childminders (and others who offer childcare on domestic premises) with those agencies.
334.Currently anyone wishing to offer childcare provision is obliged to register with the Chief Inspector (unless they are exempt). The amendments to Part 3 of the CA 2006 will enable anyone wishing to offer childcare on domestic premises who would otherwise be obliged to apply to register with the Chief Inspector to register instead with a childminder agency (that is an agency which is itself registered on the early years register or the general childcare register). The Schedule also contains consequential amendments.