Issue - meetings

Childcare Sufficiency Assessment Progress Report and Action Plan

Meeting: 18/02/2019 - The Executive (Item 19)

19 Childcare Sufficiency Assessment Progress Report and Action Plan pdf icon PDF 986 KB

To submit a report by the Head of Learning.

Additional documents:

Decision:

It was resolved to accept the Childcare Sufficiency progress report and to approve the actions in the revised action plan.

Minutes:

The report of the Head of Learning setting out progress to date with regard to the sufficiency  of childcare arrangements within the Authority’s area along with a revised action plan were presented for the Executive’s consideration.

 

The Portfolio Member for Education, Libraries, Youth and Culture reported that this is the second update and progress report with regard to the sufficiency of childcare following the first full assessment undertaken in April, 2017; it provides information on how the gaps in provision identified in April, 2017 have, and are being addressed. The revised action plan takes into account the fact that demand for childcare services and the childcare market are evolving.

 

The Supporting Families Unit Manager said that the assessment is undertaken annually and that the current position is stable. Childminder numbers are relatively low and there is a need to ensure sufficiency to enable parents especially women, to take up or remain in work. Welsh Government’s childcare offer of 30 hours per week of free childcare for working parents of 3 to 4 year olds has saved parents a considerable sum in terms of childcare costs and is also worth in the region of £100k per month to the local economy. The Officer said that since the report was written the Authority has heard that it has been successful with a capital bid to develop childcare centres on schools sites the objective being to make it easier for parents to find childcare that fits around the working day and children’s age range. The bid is worth £2.7m and will fund seven childcare centres across the Island.  As part of the development attention will be given to the northern part of the Island which has not been assessed hitherto the aim having been to co-ordinate activity with the schools’ modernisation process. Although a variety of provision is available on the Island childminders remains the most problematic aspect – the work can be demanding and involves long hours. Every effort is being made to generate interest and to support businesses making sure the workforce is accessible and with the capital grant, making sure businesses are sustainable.

 

The Executive in noting the report acknowledged the importance of childcare in bringing parents to the workforce and consequently, in providing a boost to the local economy. Whilst the Executive noted that progress has been made which is a positive it accepted that there is still room to strengthen arrangements locally especially as regards increasing the number of childminders across the county, and that the revised action plan will take matters forward. 

 

It was resolved to accept the Childcare Sufficiency progress report and to approve the actions in the revised action plan.