Decision details

To approve the release of the two capital sums to the Business Services Team (under the Director of Education and Safeguarding) for the creation of additional early years education and childcare spaces in areas identified as requiring further provision in order to support the expansion of the EYE offer and Wraparound Childcare offer for working families.

The Council have been awarded a capital sum of £349,260.13 to support the expansion of the EYE and Wraparound Childcare offer for working families. The DfE have indicated that the budget should be split on an 80/20 basis in favour of the EYE offer, but this is entirely at each Council’s discretion and dependent on their need for place provision. In addition, the Council holds a legacy budget of £110,617.79 S106 funding for Early Years and Childcare which should be combined with the above sum to help create additional place provision within the areas it was granted for.

The Childcare Acts of 2006 and 2016 place a statutory duty on the Council to ensure sufficiency of Early Years and Childcare provision. Given the additional responsibilities resulting from the 2023 Budget announcement the Council need to use these funds to ensure that, where required in areas of shortfall, additional places are created so that all the eligible children can access a place and that their families are able to work due to reliable and sustainable childcare.

None.