Family Information Service (FIS)
The Family Information Service (FIS) provides comprehensive advice and support to families, in addition to working closely with registered Private, Voluntary and Independent (PVI) childcare Providers in Havering such Childminders, Day Nurseries, Playgroups, Pre-Schools, Independent Schools, Crèches, Out of School Clubs, Holiday Schemes and Parent and Toddler Groups.
Who Provides Childcare?
There are various forms of childcare, registered and unregistered. Registered childcare includes:
Childminders
Childminders on the Childcare Register provide care for one or more children aged between five and eight, or from eight to 18, in a home environment - usually their own. Registered childminders are usually self-employed and are registered and inspected by Ofsted. They are allowed to care for up to six children under the age of eight, including their own, but only three of them can be under five. Accredited Childminders are able to deliver the
Early Educational Entitlement (EEE) for 3 and 4 year olds in Havering.
Day Nursery
Providing care, play and education for the under fives. All provide full time places, whilst some offer part-time care to coincide with a standard working day, i.e. 7am-7pm on weekdays. All Day Nurseries in Havering deliver the
Early Educational Entitlement (EEE) for 3 and 4 year olds. They must be inspected and registered with Ofsted.
Pre-Schools and Playgroups
Providing care, play and education for children between two and five years of age. All Pre-Schools and Playgroups in Havering deliver the
Early Educational Entitlement (EEE) for 3 and 4 year olds. Usually part time only, they offer sessions for a few hours a day, during term time only, every day or for several days a week. They must be inspected and registered with Ofsted.
Independent School
There are currently 5 Independent Schools in Havering delivering care and
Early Educational Entitlement (EEE) for 3 and 4 year olds. Independent Schools are often sometimes referred to as private schools or fee-charging schools.
Maintained Nursery
There are currently 15 Maintained Nurseries attached to schools in Havering. These provide
Early Educational Entitlement (EEE) and childcare for children between three and five years old (some will take children from two and a half), during school hours and term time only. They are registered and inspected by Ofsted.
Out of School Clubs
Children aged between five and 11 years can access a wide range of play and leisure activities, though some clubs cater for children between three and 14 years. They must be inspected and registered with Ofsted. Most are based on school sites, if an out-of-school club is in your child's school playworkers will escort your child to the club. If it is elsewhere, you will need to make your own arrangements for after-school collection.
Holiday Play Scheme
Care and play for children aged 5-14 (some from three years) out of school hours, available during half term and summer holidays. They must be inspected and registered with Ofsted.
Crèche
Where children can be left, for up to 2 hours, while their parents do other things for example shopping or attending a gym. They must be registered and inspected by Ofsted.
Nanny and Home Childcarers
They are employed by you to care for your children, usually in your own home. Nannies can live in or out. Nannies and Home Childcarers working in the child's home do not have to be registered by Ofsted though may have a recognised childcare qualification or nursery nurse training, but this is not compulsory. However, they can be registered on the voluntary part of the Ofsted Childcare Register, if they meet the requirements.
Au Pair
Usually a single young person from overseas who comes to the UK to study English. They live with a family and help out in the home for a maximum of five hours a day. In exchange they must have time off, and have a weekly allowance (around £50), meals and their own room. They are not registered or usually trained to work with children.
Havering Children's Centres
Children's Centres are for all families with children under five years old and parents to be. Children's Centres can give advice, support and information on your child's health, development and care.
Should you require any further information, please contact Havering Family Information Service on 01708 431783 (9am-5pm, Mon-Fri) or email
fis@havering.gov.uk
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum is a statutory comprehensive framework which sets the standards for learning, development and care of children from birth to five.
All registered early years providers working with 0-5 year olds are required to use the EYFS from September 2008 until 31 August 2012, when the new framework comes in to force. The current framework can be downloaded from the Department of Education (DfE) website by following this link: EYFS until 31 August 2012
On 27 March 2012 the Government published the reformed Statutory Framework for the EYFS which will take effect from 01 September 2012. Until that time the current EYFS Framework will remain in force.
The new, simpler and clearer EYFS framework is an integral part of the Government's wider vision for families in the foundation years. Building on the independent advice of Dame Clare Tickell, it will reduce paperwork and bureaucracy for professionals and enable them to focus more strongly on the areas of learning most essential for children's healthy development. It will also simplify assessment at age five, reducing the early learning goals from 69 to 17, and provide for earlier intervention for children who need extra help.
To access the reformed EYFS and download supporting material in preparation for September 2012 please visit the DfE website: EYFS from 01 September 2012
Havering Provider Matters
Download the latest newsletter for Early Years providers in Havering:
Provider Matters Newsletter - Spring 2012 .pdf
Provider Matters Newsletter - Autumn 2011.pdf
Early Years Provider Reference Group (EYPRG)
The Early Years Provider Reference Group (EYPRG) was formed to provide two way feedback between Providers and the Local Authority. The EYPRG is made up of representatives from each of the childcare sectors in Havering: Full Day Care, Sessional Day Care, Childminders, Independent Schools, Maintained Schools with Nurseries attached, Voluntary and Out of School Clubs. Appendices from previous EYPRG Meetings can be requested directly from FYIAS.
Partnership Areas
Foundation Years and Independent Advice Service works on a locality basis. The Local Authority is split into six locality areas, two of which form one Partnership area.
| South |
1 |
Rainham |
|---|
| 2 |
Upminster and Cranham |
| East |
3 |
Harold Hill and Harold Wood |
|---|
| 6 |
Hornchurch |
| West |
4 |
Romford Town |
|---|
| 5 |
Collier Row and Mawney |
Partnership reports are prepared on a termly basis and are available to view below:
FYIAS Training Programme
FYIAS produces a Training Programme for all registered Private, Voluntary and Independent (PVI) Providers in Havering.
April 2012 - March 2013:Training Programme 2012-2013.pdf
Booking Form: 
FYIAS Booking Form 2012_13.doc
Cancellation Fee Policy 2012-2013: Cancellation Fee Policy_2012-13.pdf
Havering also signposts Providers to internal and external training courses run by departments such as the:
Behaviour Support Service Training Brochure 2012-2013.pdf
Local Safeguarding Children Board Training Programme 2012-2013.pdf
Local Safeguarding Children Board Booking Form.pdf
Local Safeguarding Children Board Cancellation Policy.pdf
Privacy Notices
In January 2010 the Privacy Notice (formally the Fair Processing Notice) was introduced to all Providers who would be requesting and storing data from service user. Please follow this link for further information regarding this: Privacy Notices.
For a draft of the letter you will need to distribute to the parents / carers at your provision please feel free to use this document and amend to suit your setting: Draft letter regarding Privacy Notices.doc.
Consultations
In addition to alerting Providers via email of upcoming consultations that may affect their childcare practice FYIAS will also be adding the links to these consultations below along with their response dates.