Information on local childcare job vacancies, details of the local information service and factsheets on childcare options are available from the Plymouth Family Information Service (amalgamated with Routeways) on freephone 0800 783 4259; also help and advice about Working Tax Credit. They will also help with information on the following services in Plymouth:

• Childcare Advice
• Childminders
• Playgroups
• Creches
• Family Centres
• Holiday Clubs and Playschemes
• Before and After School Clubs
• Family Support Information
• Parenting Classes
• Youth Clubs
• Leisure Activities

Early Years, and Childcare Service

Plymouth Early Years Service

The Early Years and Childcare Service is a part of the Council’s services for Children and Young People. We are a team of enthusiastic professionals who are passionate about supporting early years and childcare provision (0 to 16) in Plymouth.

We believe that children and young people deserve the best opportunities to reach their full potential and for that reason our team continues to provide ever more effective services to meet their needs and raise their aspirations.

We aim to support and plan the development of:

* good quality
* affordable
* flexible
* inclusive
* sustainable childcare places in response to parental demand

We are working towards having every full daycare provision being led by a Graduate Early Years Professional by 2015 or two in the most disadvantaged areas of the city.

If you would like to find out more about the work that we do, please go to the Childcare Act 2006 summary page.

For information on childcare providers and available childcare places in your area, please visit the Plymouth Family Information Service website or telephone 0800 783 4259.

If you would like any further information please contact the Plymouth Early Years and Childcare Service via their website or on 01752 307450.

Devon Childminding Association

The Devon Childminding Association is a registered charity funded by the local authorities of Plymouth, Devon and Torbay to provide advice, information and support to both parents and childminders as well as to provide training for childminders. They are happy to deal with any enquiries about childminding on (01752) 202059.

The Beckly Centre

Mayers Way, Hooe Road, Plymstock, Plymouth PL9 9DF. Telephone and fax 01752 484433

Beckly is a local group that facilitates a range of affordable, regular and accessible leisure time play, social and recreational activities, outings and opportunities for disabled children and young people in small peer groups from our premises at Plymstock and in the wider community.
Beckly sessions operate in term time during evenings and weekends along with additional day time playscheme sessions during all school holidays. We aim to offer children and young people chances to engage in stimulating, enjoyable and beneficial activities that encourage them to participate in and share difference experiences, social integration and inclusion
For programme information please contact the Beckly office on 01752 484433
Beckly is now part of the Routeways Centre which is a local registered charity closely involved in support families, children and young people
Follow the link above for more information via the Routeways Centre website

Ofsted

OFSTED (Office for Standards in Education) registers and inspects childcare for children from birth to 17 years. Visit the website to find out more about Ofsted’s role and to download inspection reports for early years and childcare, children’s homes, nurseries, schools and colleges.

Ofsted suggest you contact the Early Years Section at the LEA to confirm whether a nursery setting is registered to receive grant as part of its Early Years Development and Childcare Plan. Plymouth Early Years can be contacted on (01752) 307450. If the LEA has registered the setting for grant, OFSTED will normally carry out an inspection within two terms of the setting first beginning to claim grant.

The inspection report is available from the setting within a month of the inspection. Reports are available via the website approximately three months from the date of inspection.

Visit the Ofsted website for details of the Ofsted Reports on formal childcare provision in Plymouth. This site lists private providers in the city that have been inspected, together with details of the age range, numbers and type of provision and the inspectors’ report on each one.

Nursery provision in state schools is reviewed when OFSTED carry out the inspection of the whole school. The school reports can also be found on the OFSTED Website.