Childcare Registration Jargon Buster

Here you will find explanations for frequently used terms in early years eduction.

Childcare registers

There are 2 types of register. You are allowed to register on both types of register

Early Years Register

If you intend to care for children from birth to 31st August following their fifth birthday then you will ned to join the Early Years Register.

Childcare Register

The Childcare Register has 2 parts, a Compulsory part and a Voluntary part

You will need to join the compulsory part if you intend to care for children aged 5 to 7.

You can choose to join the voluntary part of the register if you intend to care for children over 8 years old

Childcare on non-domestic premises

This is childcare on a premises that is not being used as a private home, such as a day nursery or preschool.

Childcare on domestic premises

This is where the childcare is on a premises that is mainly a private home. There are 2 types of domestic childcare registrations:

childminder (up to and including 4 people providing care)
childcare on domestic premises (5 or more people providing care)

Childminding without domestic premises

This is where a childminder works solely from somewhere other than a home, for example, a community or village hall.

A provider who choses this type of registration cannot work from their own or anyone else’s home.

Registered person

You can register as an individual or organisation. Once you have registered with Ofsted, then you are known as the ‘registered person'.

Nominated person or nominated individual

If you register as an organisation, you must appoint a nominated person who will take responsibility and liaise with Ofsted in matters relating to the registration and other legal maters (including legal, notices, suspension, cancellation etc.).

The nominated person cannot be a manager unless they are also a member of the governing body.

A manager can be appointed as a named contact who can communicate with Ofsted on general maters concerning the setting.

Governing body

This refers to all partners, directors, trustees etc.

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

This is a set of standards for the Learning, development, and care of children from birth to 5 years.

Statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

The EYFS document has 3 sections detailing

Learning and Development
Assessment
The Safeguarding & Welfare Requirements

These must be followed by all those included on the Early Years Register

There are 2 versions of this document

one is for Childminders
one for Group and School-based provision

The safeguarding and welfare requirements

This is section 3 of the EYFS Statutory framework and details all the welfare elements that you must comply with If you are included on the Early Years Register.

If you are also included on the Childcare Register, then you must comply with the core requirements of the Childcare Register and any additional requirements depending on which part of the register you have joined (the Compulsory and/or Voluntary parts).

If you are included on the Early Years AND Childcare Registers, you must ensure you comply with both sets of requirements.

Read the core requirements of the Childcare Register

Funded early education and childcare for 9 months, 2, 3, 4-year-old

All 3 and 4 year olds in England are entitled to a number of funded hours childcare per year. You must join the Early Years register to be able to offer this to parents/carers.

Some 2 year olds will also qualify for 15 hours of funded childcare. Families who receive some additional forms of government support and working families may be eligible.

Some children aged 9+ months will also be eligible to access 15 hours funded childcare where their families are working.

[From Sept 2025 Eligible working parents of children aged 9 months plus will be able to access 30 hours childcare entitlement (from the term following their child turning 9 months old]

Further information regarding funded childcare, can be found on Best Start in Life Parent Hub or Help with Childcare Costs.

Nottinghamshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (NSCP)

The NSCP provides procedures and guidance to support practitioners to work together to safeguard children.

It also provides a programme of multi-agency training, and monitor safeguarding practice through audits, case reviews and performance information.

For information on training, events, as well as support and information resources you can visit the Nottinghamshire Safeguarding Children Partnership website.

Nottingham City Safeguarding Children Partnership

The NCSCP provides the safeguarding arrangements under which the safeguarding partners and relevant agencies work together to coordinate their safeguarding services, identify and respond to the needs of children in Nottingham City, commission and publish local child safeguarding practice reviews and provide scrutiny to ensure the effectiveness of the arrangements.

Further information can be found on the following link - Nottingham City Safeguarding Children Partnership

Early Years Education and Childcare Training (previously called TADO Training and Development Opportunities)

Nottinghamshire County Council offer a variety of sector specific training, workshops, networks and briefings – this is sometimes referred to under its previous title of TADO (Training and Development Opportunities).

Courses and booking information in Nottinghamshire can be found on the Early years education and childcare training page (Nottinghamshire County Council)

Courses and booking information in Nottingham City can be found on the Nottingham City Early Years CPD training (Nottinghamshire City Council)