Useful Information for Childcare Providers

This page contains useful information for you and your setting

Family Information Directory

Cheshire East Family Information Service provides a Families Resource Directory, which is the main place for Family Information and Childcare Information within Cheshire East.   If you have previously agreed for your information to be uploaded onto the Family Information Directory then we will have automatically transferred your information onto the new local directory, should you wish to be removed then please get in touch.  If you have any questions about the handling of your information then please get in touch.

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Don't forget, you can follow us on Facebook and Twitter! On Facebook, search for us at Family Information Service (Cheshire East Council) and follow us on Twitter at FIS CheshireEast

Thinking of starting a new childcare business e.g. Childminder, Out of School Club, Pre-School?

If you are thinking about starting a new business, please call the FIS service or email the childcare development officer.  The Early Years and Childcare webpage contains useful information for anyone working in the sector Come along to our free briefing and training courses (PDF, 828KB) being run this September.  Please note that the Cheshire East Childminding Partnership have launched their new websites pages - please take a look

Subsidised CRB Checks 

An Umbrella Body is a Registered Body that provides access to the CRB to other non-registered organisations. If your organisation has a requirement for less than 100 checks per year you should use the services of an Umbrella Body.  There are 3 umbrella Bodies approved by the Department of Education - The DfE subsidised service is available to childcare providers registered by Ofsted and on the Early Years register, or the compulsory part of the General Childcare Register.

Atlantic Data is able to process subsidised CRB checks and ISA Registrations on behalf of Early Years providers.   The Disclosures service provided by Atlantic Data enables Early Years providers to process their CRB checks online through a 100% paperless Disclosures channel. The Subsidised service is available to all new members of staff (paid and volunteers) requiring CRB checks and Independent Safeguard Authority ( ISA) registrations; which means the DfE pays in full for those applications.  To get started and register an interest nurseries, etc. can visit out dedicated website which is also updated regularly with news regarding vetting and barring.

TMG CRB are the largest CRB Umbrella Body with a vast amount of experience processing in excess of 125,000 applications a year.  DfE pay them to provide a Disclosure application service for all organisations on the General Childcare Register (GCR) or Early Years Register (EYR).  "We have a dedicated team of eight administrators who manage the DfE subsidised clients.  We have specialist knowledge and offer the support of a qualified Social Worker in understanding information revealed on a Disclosure.  To this end we follow up the dispatch of all Disclosures with content with a phone call to check the Disclosure Manager understands the nature, significance and relevance of any information revealed.We aim to support organisations and applicants through every step of the process."

Capita Recruitment Vetting Service (PDF, 242KB) now offer an online CRB check service through our new e-Bulk software making this the most cost effective, efficient and fastest way to vet new and existing staff.  The system is fully compliant with the CRB , accredited by the Ministry of Justice and is already being used by a number of clients including the Department for Education, the Home Office and the Driving Standards Agency as well as many schools, universities and nurseries.

Did you know that Ofsted have changed their numbers?  More information on this and more is available on the Ofsted Website.

Other Useful Information

Changes to the Bookstart Programme (PDF, 66KB) - Frequently Asked Questions

We have produced a factsheet regarding Data Protection in relation to registering with ICO for Childcare Providers (PDF, 26.6KB)

A flexible childcare training course has been developed by the Children’s Workforce Development Council in consultation with NCMA , allowing childminders and nannies to fit studying around work

The SafeNetwork helps to keep children safe when taking part in activities – from after school art clubs to weekend reading groups and more – outside the home.

Mind the Road is a site which contains useful information for Childminders (but can be used for all settings) containing information and activities to use with children and families you work with.

The Health Protection Unit provides experts and advice for infection control, emergency planning and environmental health issues.

The Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) is calling for recruiters in all organisations that work with children and young people to complete free Safer Recruitment Online Training to help safeguard children.

Did you know that every child under the age of five is entitled to a free 189ml serving of milk whilst in attendance at a registered daycare provider for two or more hours a day?  The Nursery Milk Reimbursement Unit (NMRU) who manage the Nursery Milk Scheme has asked us to remind you of two legitimate companies you can use to access this scheme.  They are Cool Milk and Scotts Milk for Free.

Other Useful Pages on the Cheshire East Council Site

The role of the Early Years Foundation Stage and Childcare Team in Cheshire East is to lead quality improvement for children from birth to age five in all in private, voluntary, independent and maintained settings (including Children’s Centres, reception classes and the Maintained Nursery School) and in any childcare provision for children up to and including the age of 14 (17 for disabled children).

The Childcare Workforce Development Team provides a programme of training, information, and advice as well as funding for Early Years and Childcare practitioners to attain qualifications, and access continuing professional development. Additionally, they help people find out about careers in childcare and support employers with information about training and employment issues.