Welcome to Cambridgeshire's Early Years, Childcare, and School Readiness Provider Agreement page. This page contains all the information you need about:
- How to access the support available from Cambridgeshire County Council
- The council’s responsibilities for childcare and early years education
- And its expectations of providers.
The information on this page is relevant to all Ofsted (or Childminder Agency) registered providers operating in Cambridgeshire, school-run pre-schools and providers exempt from registration. It is essential for any provider seeking to offer funded early years places (also known as early years education, free entitlement, or 15/30 hours places).
There are three parts:
If you are an out-of-school provider or a childminder who is not offering funded places, you only need to read Part 1. General Requirements. You can ignore Parts 2 and 3.
Local Provider Agreement Framework
As part of its vision to make Cambridgeshire a great place to call home, and in support of its statutory responsibilities*, Cambridgeshire County Council offers support to its early years and childcare provider community.
That support includes:
- qualifications and ongoing professional training,
- access to specific advice,
- guidance and resources to improve the quality of provision and outcomes for children,
- and funding support where applicable.
Providers are required to sign up for this Provider Agreement and to comply with the conditions set out in Part 1 of Schedule A of this document to access this support. Sign-up is via the Cambridgeshire Early Years and Childcare Local Provider / Funding Agreement - sign-up form.
In addition, providers offering early years places funded by the county council are required to meet the further conditions set out in Part 2. Specific Guidance.
Funding arrangements for Cambridgeshire’s Holiday Activities and Food scheme are covered by a separate agreement.
*Cambridgeshire County Council has the following responsibilities (set out in the Department for Education Early Years Statutory Guidance):
- secure a free entitlement place for every eligible child in their area,
- work in partnership with providers to agree on how to deliver free entitlement places,
- be clear about their role and the support on offer locally to meet the needs of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) as well as their expectations of providers, and
- contribute to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in their area.
