[holding answer 19 June 2009]: These are matters for Ofsted. The Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply has been placed in the House Libraries.
Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 6 July 2009:
Your parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, for a response.
The method used by Ofsted to record numbers of childcare places changed with the introduction of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) in September 2008. Ofsted now holds two registers, the Early Years Register (for settings providing for children between birth and aged five) and the Childcare Register. The Childcare Register has two components, the compulsory register (for settings providing for children aged between five and seven) and the voluntary register (for settings providing for children older than aged eight). These registers replace the single register previously held for settings providing for children between birth and aged seven.
For providers only registered on the Early Years Register, or those registered on both the Early Years Register and the compulsory part of the Childcare Register, the only change is to the breakdown of age ranges recorded on the new registers.
For those providers only registered on the voluntary part of the Childcare Register, there is no maximum number of places stipulated. The maximum number of places a setting on the other registers can offer is set out in their conditions of registration.
A copy of this reply has been sent to Rt Hon Dawn Primarolo MP, Minister of State for Children, Young People and Families, and will be placed in the library of both Houses.