Legislation/ Statutory Frameworks/ Regulations and Guidance
Childcare Legislation, Strategies, Policies & Procedures that everyone working in childcare needs to know:
Children's Services Co Operation Act (Northern Ireland) 2015
The Children’s Services Co-operation Act (NI) 2015, (CSCA) places a duty on the Executive to adopt a strategy to improve the well-being of children and young people, and requires that for the purpose of determining children’s well-being, regard is to be had to the relevant provision of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
In England and Wales, the Childcare Act (2006) places a statutory duty on local authorities to ensure there is sufficient childcare provision in their area to meet the needs of local working parents. In Northern Ireland, Childcare is not mandated on a statutory basis in terms of sufficient availability, instead the Children’s Order (1995) outlines the statutory framework and underlying principles for family support services for families with children in need and day care services for children under twelve. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisi/1995/755/contents.
The associated Guidance and Regulations was produced by the Department of Health and the office of Law Reform.
https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/health/children-ni.order-95-guidance.PDF.
The Minimum Standards for Childminding and Daycare for Children Under Age 12 were published in July 2012 by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. The minimum standards build on the legal requirements set out on the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 and aim to ‘provide assurance of a consistent level of quality in these services, and also to provide a consistent regional approach to registration and inspection’.
In order to attain and retain registered status with local Health and Social Care Trusts, Early Years providers must comply with all the requirements as set out within the minimum standards.
- Minimum Standards for Childcare Providers (PDF)
- Implementation Guidance for Childminders (PDF)
- Implementation Guidance for Groups (PDF)