In Practice: Ask the experts

From September 2008, there will be an early years register and a childcare register with compulsory and voluntary parts.

For the early years register, providers must register and deliver the early years foundation stage (EYFS) if they care for children in the EYFS age group (from birth to 31 August following the child's fifth birthday). Some services will not have to register. These are likely to include some creches, activity-based settings and care provided in a child's own home.

For the compulsory part, providers must join if they care for children who are older than the EYFS age group but under eight. Providers who work with children in the EYFS age group and also with children up to eight must join both registers.

For the voluntary part, some providers are exempt or eligible for the other registers but can choose to register. This includes providers who work in the child's own home, activity-based settings, short-term care such as some creches, and care which is only for children over eight.

And what difference will this make to the inspection processes?

For providers on the early years register, the focus will be the early years foundation stage. There will be similarities to previous inspections, with an ongoing focus on outcomes for children, the onus on providers to comply with regulations, use of grades, methods of inspection and advance notice of the inspection. This will be similar for the compulsory part of the childcare register. But for the voluntary part, the focus will be on compliance with the regulations only. Ten per cent of providers will be chosen at random annually, though this process will also be linked to complaints.

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