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Childcare

Childcare providers offer a safe and stimulating environment for your child to enjoy and thrive in.

Children are encouraged to learn through play. Activities are planned to support their learning and development.

Early years settings include:

  • childminders
  • pre-schools
  • nurseries

All early years settings follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). This provides a structure of play-based learning and care for children from birth to five years.

Finding childcare providers

Find information on local childcare providers on:

To find an Ofsted inspection report for any childcare setting go to Ofsted.

Becoming a childminder or setting up a new childcare setting

If you are looking to become a registered childminder you can find specific information on the Bexley Early Years website. 

If you are planning to set up other forms of registered childcare (for example a nursery or pre-school), take a look at Bexley early years resource platform for information. You can also contact our Early Years team, email earlyyears@bexley.gov.uk.

Check an early years qualification service – available now!

Early years managers can now use the new Check an Early Years Qualification digital service to quickly verify whether staff qualifications meet the requirements for staff: child ratios in England.

This free GOV.​UK tool allows managers to check a qualification’s approval status by entering key details such as: 

  • course start date
  • level
  • awarding organisation

At the end of the process, a clear outcome is provided, which can be printed for your records.

Why use the new service?

Using the new Check an early years qualification service:

  • saves time during recruitment and HR processes
  • supports workforce planning ahead of the September 2025 expansion of funded childcare entitlements
  • reduces confusion when checking qualifications

The service is tailored specifically for early years managers. All other user groups (for example practitioners) should continue to use the Early Years Qualifications List (EYQL) to check qualifications, and contact our supplier Ecctis if they are unable to find the qualification on the EYQL.

The Check an early years qualification service is for qualifications achieved in the UK. Holders of non-UK qualifications should continue to contact our supplier Ecctis for an assessment.

If you need help using the service you can contact DfE.

You will be sent an information pack that will detail the steps you need to take to get started.

Further information about setting up childcare can be found on Ofsted.

Our Early Years Support Officers can offer business advice. Information can also be found on GOV.UK.

View the Bexley Childcare Sufficiency Report.