Early years and childcare
Devon’s Early Years and Childcare Service supports the expansion and improvement of childcare services for children aged 0-16 across Devon, to meet the needs of children and their families. Ensuring that there is sufficient available, and affordable, childcare across Devon requires collaborative working with the private, voluntary and independent sector, who deliver a high proportion of early years and childcare provision in the county, including:
- nurseries - for ages 0-5 years
- pre-schools - for ages 2-5 years
- before- and after-school clubs and holiday schemes - usually for ages 4-14 years
There has been a great deal of development in these services in recent years to enable parents and carers to access working opportunities if they so wish. The Childcare Act 2006 places a duty on Local Authorities to secure sufficient childcare for working parents, and provide a better parental information service.