6.1 The local authority will support partnerships on four levels between:
- Local authorities and providers
- Providers working with other providers, including childminders, schools, and organisations
- Providers and parents/carers
- Local authorities and parents/carers
6.2 The local authority will promote partnership working between different types of providers, including childminders, across all sectors and encourage more providers to work together to offer flexible provision.
6.3 The provider should work in partnership with parents/carers, and other providers to improve provision and outcomes for children in their setting.
6.4 The provider should discuss and work closely with parents/carers to agree how a child’s overall care will work in practice when their early years’ entitlement is split across different providers, such as at a maintained setting and childminder, to ensure a smooth transition for the child. Providers should not place charges on families who choose to access their funded entitlement hours with more than one provider.