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Early Years and Childcare Service

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News🗞️

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Published 13 February 2026

Update: Early Years Qualification Advice

UK ENIC (Ecctis) will no longer provide information or advice on domestic Early Years qualifications. Practitioners and providers should now use the Check an Early Years Qualification (CEYQ) service on GOV.UK.

Access the CEYQ service here:
Start - Check an Early Years qualification

About the CEYQ service

CEYQ enables users to:

  • Check whether a qualification meets Early Years requirements
  • Confirm the staff:child ratios an individual can work under
  • Generate a clear, printable outcome based on qualification details

UK ENIC will continue to assess qualifications achieved outside the UK.

Published 13 February 2026

Product Recall – Aptamil First Infant Formula

Important Notice for Parents: Recall of Aptamil First Infant Formula

Danone has issued a recall of Aptamil First Infant Formula after tests identified a safety‑related substance identified in the batch – Food Standards Agency.

Please check any formula products at home and follow the guidance provided by the Food Standards Agency:

Danone recalls Aptamil First Infant Formula because cereulide (toxin) has been found in this batch | Food Standards Agency

If you have concerns about your child's health, please seek advice from a health professional.

Childminders

Pages for existing and potential childminders looking to work in the sector.
Childminders

Early years business support

Childcare Sufficiency Duty Report, Self Update Provider Portal (SUPP), the Business Support Toolkit, Sufficiency Grants, and Wraparound.
Early Years Business Support

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) sets the standards that all early years providers must meet to ensure that children learn and develop well, are kept healthy and safe and provides the right foundation for good future progress through school and life.
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

Early years funding

Disability Access Fund, Help with Childcare Costs, Nursery Education Funding (NEF) and Self Update Provider Portal (SUPP) pages
Early Years Funding

Newsletters and bulletins

All Childminder, Provider and Business Bulletins that have been published can be found in this section.
Newsletters and Bulletins

Resources to support your practice

Practitioner pages including Provider Forum, Practitioner Referral Forms, Safeguarding and Training.
Resources to Support Your Practice

Training and networking

The Early Years Service offers a range of free and purchasable training courses. These courses are designed to support implementation of the Early Years Foundation Stage and are delivered by the Local Authority Early Years Service team and colleagues.
Training and Networking