Information for Providers

For Early Years and Childcare Providers

Childcare Sufficiency Assessment

Since April 2008, the government has placed a statutory duty on all local authorities to ensure that there is sufficient childcare in their area.  Find out more information

Early Years Foundation Stage

Early Years Foundation the statutory framework for those working with children up to 5 years of age.
Find out more information.

Environment Rating Scales

The Environment Rating Scales are internationally recognised evidence-based quality improvement tools, specifically designed for the childcare environment. Originally developed (with the exception of ECERS-E) in America, the scales are now used internationally, and they enable settings to evaluate their environment and provision, and identify clear steps for development in order to improve outcomes for children.

In response to feedback from providers, our current strategy is to support settings with their own audits and many practitioners and managers have attended co-audit training.
Find out about more resources to help you prepare for your audit or use the scales in your setting.

In Worcestershire participation in the ECERS or FCCERS project is one of the full range of Quality Indicators (NEF Code of Practice 2010 and 2012) which supports entitlement to Nursery Education Funding.  For more information refer to the WER (Worcestershire EYQISP Rating) guidance (PDF 229 KB).

Funding

Worcestershire County Council provides free early education places for all three and four year old children within Worcestershire. Find out more information on Funding.

Inclusion, Equality and Diversity

Find our more about the Inclusion, Equality and Diversity teams, and helpful tools such as the SENCo Toolkit. 

Infection Control Guidelines

Worcestershire Infection Control Guidelines for Early Years and Childcare (PDF 1.13 MB)

Local Partnership Groups

Information about Partnership Groups

Out of School Provision

Information for those providing childcare for school aged children (PDF 38.6 KB)

Worcestershire Early Years Quality Improvement Support Programme Guidance 2012/13

Worcestershire Early Years Quality Improvement Support Programme (EYQISP) Rating (WER) Guidance (PDF 171 KB)