The Education (Nursery Education and Early Years Development and Childcare Plans) (Wales) Regulations 2003

• Citation: S.I. 2003/893 (W.)
• Sections: 7

Section 1 Name, commencement and application

(1) These Regulations are called the Education (Nursery Education and Early Years Development and Childcare Plans) (Wales) Regulations 2003 and shall come into force on 31st March 2003.

(2) These Regulations apply in relation to Wales.

Section 2 Revocation

These Regulations revoke the Education (Nursery Education and Early Years Development) (Wales) Regulations 1999 .

Section 3 Interpretation

In these Regulations—

“the Act” (“ y Ddeddf ”) means the School Standards and Framework Act 1998;

“authority” (“ awdurdod ”) means a local education authority;

“the National Assembly” (“ y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol ”) means the National Assembly for Wales;

“nursery education” (“ addysg feithrin ”) means nursery education (within the meaning of section 117 of the Act) the provision of which an authority are under a duty to secure is sufficient by virtue of section 118 of the Act and regulation 4 of these Regulations;

“the partnership” (“ y bartneriaeth ”) means, in relation to an authority, the early years development and childcare partnership established by the authority in accordance with section 119 of the Act ;

“the plan” (“ y cynllun ”) means, in relation to an authority, the early years development and childcare plan prepared by the authority in accordance with section 120 of the Act ; and

“proposals for nursery education” (“ cynigion am addysg feithrin ”) means the statement of the authority’s proposals for complying with their duty under section 118 of the Act which the authority are required to include in their plan in accordance with section 120(2)(a) of the Act .

Section 4 Duty to secure nursery education

(1) For the purposes of section 118(1)(b) of the Act (age of children in relation to whom the authority’s duty to secure sufficient provision of nursery education for their area applies) there is prescribed —

(a) in the case of a child whose fourth birthday does not fall within one of the periods specified in paragraph (2) below, the age of the child at the start of the first term starting after the child’s fourth birthday; or

(b) in the case of a child whose fourth birthday falls within one of the periods specified in paragraph (2) below, the age of the child at the start of the term following the term referred to in that paragraph.

(2) The periods referred to in paragraph (1) above are, in any year —

(a) the period commencing 1st April and ending with the start of the Summer term of that year;

(b) the period commencing 1st September and ending with the start of the Autumn term of that year; and

(c) the period commencing 1st January and ending with the start of the Spring term of that year.

(3) For the purposes of paragraphs (1) and (2) of this regulation, “term” means the term kept in relation to the education provided, or to be provided, or under consideration, for the child and, in any year, Spring term, Summer term and Autumn term mean, respectively, the term which starts in January, in April and in September.

Section 5 Preparation and submission of plans to the National Assembly for approval

(1) The first plan after the coming into force of these Regulations must be prepared and submitted to the National Assembly for approval under section 121(1) of the Act by 1st July 2003.

(2) The second plan must be prepared and submitted to the National Assembly for approval under section 121(1) of the Act by 20th October 2003.

(3) Subsequent plans must be prepared at one year intervals and submitted to the National Assembly for approval under section 121(1) of the Act by 20th October.

Section 6 Proposals for nursery education

(1) Proposals for nursery education are to relate, in respect of the first plan, to the period of seven months beginning on 1st September 2003.

(2) Proposals for nursery education are to relate, in respect of the second and subsequent plans, to the period of one year beginning on 1st April in the year after which it is required to be submitted to the National Assembly for approval in accordance with section 121(1) of the Act and regulation 5(1), (2) or (3) above.

(3) Proposals for nursery education must deal with the matters referred to in the Schedule to these Regulations.

Section 7 Publication of plans

(1) Where the National Assembly has approved—

(a) an authority’s plan under subsection (2) of section 121 of the Act, or

(b) the modification of an authority’s plan under subsection (8) of that section,

the authority must publish their plan, or their plan as modified, within 28 days after the date of approval of the plan or modification of the plan under subsection (2) or (8) of section 121.

(2) The authority must publish their plan, or their plan as modified, by making it available —

(a) at their education offices,

(b) at libraries in their area, and

(c) as part of their service providing information to the public relating to the provision of childcare and related services in their area in accordance with section 118A(3) of the Act

for reference by members of the public.

(3) The authority must provide a copy of their plan, or their plan as modified, to—

(a) the National Assembly, and

(b) each of the members of the partnership

within 28 days after the date of approval of the plan or modification of the plan under subsection (2) or (8) of section 121 of the Act.