We’re seeking high-quality, relevant research that may inform amendments to the ECF and CCF.
Closes 21 April 2023
We’re seeking to understand how reasonable force, restraint and restrictive practices are used in schools to inform revisions to guidance.
Closes 11 May 2023
We are seeking views on the Children's Social Care National Framework (National Framework) and the Children's Social Care Dashboard (Dashboard). The National Framework has been published alongside Stable Homes, Built on Love: Implementation Strategy and Consultation . In the strategy, ...
Closes 11 May 2023
We're seeking views on our proposals to reform children's social care.
Closes 11 May 2023
We’d like your views on proposals to introduce national rules on the engagement of agency social work resource in local authority children’s social care.
Closes 11 May 2023
We're seeking views to exempt some providers of adoption support services from the Ofsted registration requirement.
Closed 20 March 2023
We are seeking views on the de-designation of the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education as the Designated Quality Body in England.
Closed 3 March 2023
We're seeking views on the SSAC system, how this system is working, and views on the current Sector Subject Areas being used within it.
Closed 3 February 2023
We are seeking views on proposed revisions to the criteria that underpin the early years educator level 3 criteria.
Closed 23 January 2023
We're seeking views on proposed changes to Ofsted fees and a minimum inspection frequency for secure 16-19 academies (secure schools).
Closed 18 January 2023
Here are some of the issues we have consulted on and their outcomes. See all outcomes
We asked for views on our proposals to make changes to fees for children’s social care providers and to set a minimum inspection frequency for the secure children’s homes element of secure 16-19 academies.
Close to half of respondents (44%) told us that the proposed fee increase would have no or a minor impact. Whereas 39% told us that it would have a moderate impact and 18% told us it would have a major impact.
The majority of respondents (63%) agreed with our proposal that secure 16-19 academies should be subject to the same number of minimum inspections as secure children’s homes.
The results of the consultation have been set out in a report on the gov.uk website. Based on these results, the department has decided to implement a 10% increase in fees for children’s social care providers not paying the full cost rate and set a requirement that the secure children’s home element of all secure 16-19 academies is subject to a minimum of two Ofsted inspections a year.
We asked for views on the following proposals:
A small number of respondents agreed with the proposals to reform 2-year-old and childminder ratios, whilst most respondents disagreed with the proposals. This was a consistent finding across all of the different types of respondents, such as parents, group-based providers and organisations representing the sector. The Government recognises that although most respondents to the consultation disagreed with the proposal on 2-year-old ratios, there was agreement from a number of respondents. This corresponds with evidence gathered via the Natcen survey, which demonstrated that 19% of all group settings (those with and without 2-year-olds) would be likely or very likely to make changes to 2-year-old ratios.
Regarding changing the EYFS wording to clarify that childminders can make exceptions to the statutory minimum ratios for their own children and siblings of children in their care, the majority of consultation respondents disagreed with proposals, although there were some positive responses. These clarifications are intended to support childminders with greater flexibility around the choice of provision they can offer. By clarifying this wording, we intend to support childminders who may care for siblings as well as babies. We recognise that not all childminders may enact this change, but given the small number that have indicated they would find this change beneficial, Government has concluded that this change will be worthwhile.
Regarding supervision whilst eating, we heard from a number of respondents and a substantial majority agreed with the proposal. When asked about their views, people commonly referred to safety reasons for children, such as spotting choking incidents or allergic reactions. A minority of respondents disagreed.
You can read the Government’s response to the consultation in full on the Childcare: regulatory changes - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) webpage.
Based on these results, the department has decided to proceed with all proposals to amend 2-year-old ratios from 1:4 to 1:5, and to amend EYFS wording around exceptions to childminder ratios. The proposed changes to ratios will continue to be a statutory minimum requirement for settings, and there will be no obligation on providers to operate at the statutory minimums – i.e. providers can continue to work to tighter ratios if they decide that is best for the children and staff at their setting.
Government has also agreed to proceed with the proposal to amend wording around supervision whilst eating to ensure children are within sight and hearing whilst eating.
The changes outlined in this document are part of a wider package of investment in the childcare sector announced on 15 March, to support more parents into work. Alongside the substantial investment in the existing free childcare hours offers, these new staffing flexibilities for providers are a sensible and proportionate step, alongside government’s additional investment, which will help meet the demand among newly eligible parents for childcare support.
We asked for views on proposed updates to the early years funding formulae and reforms to maintained nursery school supplementary funding.
The majority of respondents agreed with almost all of the proposals set out in the consultation.
We have therefore updated the datasets in line with our proposals – with a couple of minor exceptions, and made the technical amendments. The revised formulae have been used to determine the early years entitlements hourly funding rates for 2023-24.