Early Years Provider Agreement
Early Years Provider Agreement Launched Monday 27th April 2026
The Department for Education (DfE) have asked us to put a provider agreement in place; this is a statutory requirement for all local authorities and is essential that we have this in place between us the local authority and all childcare providers. The agreement itself encompasses the already published statutory guidance from the DfE, with some more further detail in relation to Shropshire.
The DfE have given us very clear instruction. Providers must sign and agree the terms and conditions set out within the document. Failure to do so will mean we cannot pass on funded entitlements to settings.
A key aim of the expansion of the 30 hours free childcare for working parents is to support parents to work. Making early education and childcare more accessible is a key pillar of The Best Start in Life strategy and central to delivering the government’s Plan for Change milestone of a record number of children being ready for school.
Whilst providers will need to adapt patterns of provision according to staff availability, and care should be taken to ensure providers continue to be able to meet staff ratios, this should be balanced with the importance of flexibility and access for parents.
Please can you ensure you review and sign by Monday 8th June 2026 at 3pm
We are using Adobe sign to ensure signing this document is as smooth and easy as possible.
To sign the document is easy, click the link in the email sent over, simply scroll down to the bottom of the agreement and click on the signature textbox. Click submit and it will send it over to us in an email. That’s all you have to do.
If you have any questions or issues, please reach out to Dan.Steele@shropshire.gov.uk