Our registration quality standards

You must meet our requirements in five key aspects before you can become a Cambridge Early Years Centre.

We will discuss and evaluate each aspect with you during the registration process. We may also periodically review your school against these aspects during the reapproval process. You can find out more about what we look for below

The centre’s mission and educational values

We require that:

1. The centre has a clear mission statement that refers to its educational values.
2. The culture of the centre is learner centred. It supports children and practitioners to become confident, responsible, reflective, innovative and engaged.
3. The foundations of international awareness and global perspectives are promoted.
4. Relationships between staff and children are positive and show mutual respect. The centre has established and consistent expectations of behaviour.

Centre management and leadership

We require that:

1. The Head of Centre is suitably qualified and experienced in educational leadership.
2. The senior management team and the governing body have clear goals to introduce Cambridge Early Years successfully. Their planning shows that this will be done effectively.
3. Senior staff are committed to setting targets for centre improvement and staff development. These are supported by well-designed performance review and self-evaluation.
4. Centre budgets are managed effectively and transparently.
5. A complaints procedure is in place that effectively manages complaints for parents and other stakeholders.

Quality of teaching and learning

We require that:

1. The centre has a suitable number of staff employed in management, teaching and support roles.
2. The intended learning is clearly expressed and accessible to practitioners, children and their parents.
3. Assessment outcomes are monitored and evaluated, with clear feedback into teaching and learning strategies.
4. Practitioners have suitable qualifications to deliver Cambridge Early Years successfully.
5. Teaching takes account of children’s diverse interests and needs.
6. The centre has a well-designed approach to the professional development of practitioners and other staff.
7. The centre has a clear policy to address the language needs of learners.

The physical environment of the centre

We require that:

1. The centre premises create a positive and inclusive learning environment for children.
2. The centre has a good understanding of the responsibilities set out in the Cambridge Early Years Handbook.
3. The classroom sizes are suitable for the number of children.
4. The centre has child-friendly toilets and sinks.
5. The centre has easy access to water in or close to each classroom for washing hands.
6. The centre has a suitable number and range of resources (toys, books, craft materials, outdoor equipment etc.) for the number of children in the setting. The resources adequately support delivery of the curriculum.
7. There are indoor and outdoor spaces suitable for different types of learning activities, including areas where:
   • all children can sit together
   • children can play independently indoors and outdoors, including sand and water play
   • children can do activities at tables
   • children can wash their hands, e.g. during art and design activities
   • children can do physical activities that involve gross-motor skills, e.g. physical development, dance and drama activities.

Legal requirements

1. Fire certificate.
2. Government approval to operate, including any approvals needed to provide the Cambridge curricula you wish to offer.
3. Health and safety policies in line with government requirements.
4. First aid provision in line with government requirements.
5. Child protection policies in line with government requirements.