Issue - meetings

The Council has a statutory duty to provide working families of children aged 0-14 (18 with SEND) enough childcare places in its area, where reasonably practicable.  Each year Research and Children’s Services colleagues assess the position of the market, providing parents, councillors, schools and private business ward level information as a planning tool to support access or expansion of places, while highlighting areas of focus for the year ahead.

With significant government expansion of early years childcare and wraparound care currently taking place, this information and data is vital for private businesses seeking to enter the market and help the Council fulfil its statutory duties.

The content of the assessment concludes that the Council is meeting its statutory duties. It is also important to highlight that, at the time of writing, the quality of our providers stands at 99.2% good or outstanding (compared to 97.8% in England).

In addition to a briefing report (appendix 1) the data that helped form the assessment is accessible here.

RESOLVED that: -

Cabinet approves the content of the review and the priorities (areas of focus) as set out in the Childcare Sufficiency Assessment 2024-25 Briefing Report.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Children, Young People, Education and Skills

Reason

To fulfil the Council’s statutory duty to annually assess its childcare market.

The Portfolio Holder for Children, Young People, Education and Skills presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'D' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that the Council has a statutory duty to provide working families of children aged 0-14 (18 with SEND) enough childcare places in its area, where reasonably practicable, and that each year Research and Children’s Services colleagues assess the position of the market, providing parents, councillors, schools and private business ward level information as a planning tool to support access or expansion of places, while highlighting areas of focus for the year ahead.

Cabinet was informed that with significant government expansion of early years childcare and wraparound care currently taking place, this information and data is vital for private businesses seeking to enter the market and help the Council fulfil its statutory duties.

Cabinet was advised that the content of the assessment concludes that the Council is meeting its statutory duties, and that at the time of writing, the quality of our providers stands at 99.2% good or outstanding (compared to 97.8% in England).

Further to this Cabinet was advised that in addition to a briefing report (appendix 1) the data that helped form the assessment was accessible on the councils website here.

The Chair of the Children’s Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Carr-Brown addressed the Cabinet advising that the Committee at their meeting had had a good debate on this item and had supported the recommendation as set out.

Cabinet members discussed the item, and particularly the issues surrounding the Mudeford Wood Preschool.

Cabinet was advised that whilst BCP owns the building that the building is subject to a 25-year lease with a trust who currently run the building. Further to this Cabinet was advised that the lease agreement had been scrutinised, and that the council could not find a legal reason to get involved in the private dispute between the trust and the Mudeford Wood Preschool.

In relation to this Cabinet was advised that officers and members had been looking at ways in which to resolve the matter and were actively trying to mediate between the Preschool and the trustees.

Thanks were expressed to officers and to Councillor Martin in particular for all their hard work in supporting the group and the families and for their tireless work in trying to resolve the issue. 

RESOLVED that: -

Cabinet approves the content of the review and the priorities (areas of focus) as set out in the Childcare Sufficiency Assessment 2024-25 Briefing Report.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Children, Young People, Education and Skills

Reason

To fulfil the Council’s statutory duty to annually assess its childcare market.