{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/childcare-act-2006/section-2",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/childcare-act-2006/section-2.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2006/21",
  "legislation_title": "Childcare Act 2006",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/childcare-act-2006",
  "path": "section/2",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "2",
  "heading": "Meaning of “early childhood services” for purposes of section 3",
  "text": "(1) In section 3 “early childhood services”, in relation to an English local authority, means—\n(a) early years provision;\n(b) the social services functions of the local authority, so far as relating to young children, parents or prospective parents;\n(c) health services relating to young children, parents or prospective parents;\n(d) the provision, under arrangements made under section 2 of the Employment and Training Act 1973 (c. 50), of assistance to parents or prospective parents;\n(e) the service provided by the local authority under section 12 (duty to provide information and assistance) so far as relating to parents or prospective parents.\n(2) In this section—\n“parent” means a parent of a young child, and includes any individual who—\n(a)has parental responsibility for a young child, or\n(b)has care of a young child;\n“prospective parent” means a pregnant woman or any other person who is likely to become, or is planning to become, a parent;\n“social services functions”, in relation to a local authority, has the same meaning as in the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 (c. 42).",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 2 in force at 1.4.2008 by S.I. 2008/785, art. 2(b)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/21/section/2",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:14:29.405916+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}