childcare sufficiency assessment...agenda item no. 5 committee: lead member for learning and school...

Agenda Item No. 5 Committee: Lead Member for Learning and School Effectiveness Date: 4 February 2008 Title of Report: Childcare Sufficiency Assessment By: Director of Children’s Services Purpose of Report: To seek the Lead Member’s approval of the consultation

document on childcare sufficiency assessment. Recommendation The Lead Member is recommended to approve the attached document for circulation as the East Sussex consultation document on childcare sufficiency assessment 1. Financial Appraisal 1.1 Budget allocations have been identified within the General Sure Start Grant for 2008/09 to support childcare and early years education sufficiency. There is limited funding to provide financial incentives for new provision and to provide emergency interventions. The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) has provided additional capital funding to ensure over the next 3 years that sufficient early years education premises capable of delivering the new flexible entitlement can be secured. 2. Supporting Information 2.1 The Childcare Act gives local authorities a key role in shaping the childcare market in their area. They will, working with providers from the private, voluntary, independent and maintained sectors, look to create a strong, sustainable and diverse childcare market that meets the needs of parents. From April 2008, local authorities will have a duty to secure sufficient childcare for parents in their area to enable them to work, or undertake education or training which could reasonably be expected to assist them to work. In preparation for this duty, a detailed assessment of the supply of, and demand for, childcare in East Sussex is required. This assessment investigates whether there are sufficient childcare places within East Sussex. 2.2 The consultation report attached as an Appendix summarises the outcomes of this assessment.

2.3 The consultation period will last for one month starting on 11 February 2008 and ending on 10 March 2008.

2.4 During the period of consultation, focus groups will take place with parents living in Children’s Centre reach areas, teenage parents, minority ethnic (ME) families and parents of disabled children.

2.5 Following feedback from this consultation a final formal report will be produced.

3. Conclusion and Reason for Recommendation 3.1 The consultation document intends to highlight if the assessment of childcare needs and gaps in provision match the experience of parents and partners in different areas across East Sussex. The

document intends to make clear that the Authority is seeking their feedback in the exercise of its statutory childcare assessment duty. MATT DUNKLEY Director of Children’s Services Contact Officer: Ruth Szulecki, Childcare Manager, Tel: 01323 747414 Local Members: All BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS DCSF Childcare Sufficiency Assessments: Guidance for Local Authorities DCSF Securing sufficient childcare: Guidance for Local Authorities Childcare Act 2006 ORC International East Sussex Parents Childcare Survey 2007 (independent consultant report) Childcare Act 2006 – chapter 21. Childcare Act 2006 – Regulations (Childcare Assessments) Raising Standards – Improving Outcomes; Statutory guidance on the Childcare Act 2006 Early Years outcomes Duty

Appendix

East Sussex County Council

Childcare Sufficiency Assessment

January 2008

Draft

Consultation Document

Consultation ends 10 March 2008

East Sussex County Council Draft Childcare Sufficiency Assessment

1. INTRODUCTION The Childcare Act 2006 fulfils the Government’s commitment to give every child the best start in life and parents greater choice about how to balance work and family life. The Act places duties on English local authorities to improve outcomes for young children and reduce inequalities between them; to secure sufficient childcare to enable parents to work; and to provide information to parents about childcare and a wide range of other services that may be of benefit to them.

The Childcare Act gives local authorities a key role in shaping the childcare market in their area. We will, working with providers from the private, voluntary, independent and maintained sectors, look to create a strong, sustainable and diverse childcare market that meets the needs of parents. From April 2008, local authorities will have a duty to secure sufficient childcare for parents in their area. In preparation for this duty, a detailed assessment of the supply of, and demand for, childcare in their area is required. This document concentrates on the duty to complete a sufficiency assessment to secure sufficient childcare in East Sussex.

What is `childcare’?

Childcare means any form of care for a child, and includes education for a child and any other supervised activity.

What age range of children does this apply to?

All children aged 0-14 and for children with a disability. This also includes children aged 15, 16 and 17 years.

What is `sufficient childcare’?

(As far as is reasonably practicable) the provision of sufficient childcare to meet the requirements of parents in East Sussex who require childcare to enable them:

• to take up, or remain in, work; or • to undertake education or training which could reasonably be expected to

assist them to obtain work. What is a `sufficiency assessment’?

An assessment of the supply and demand for childcare so that East Sussex County Council can know where there is a shortage of:

• childcare places in a particular area • childcare for particular groups of parents • suitable places for disabled children or for children with other specific needs • childcare when parents need it • childcare for children up to the age of 14 (or 18)


• different types to meet parental preference What is a `Local Partnership for Children’? A clustering of the people who deliver services to children and their families, including schools, around a group of schools who assess service needs at a local level. This assessment investigates whether there are sufficient childcare places within East Sussex. In producing this analysis the Early Years, Childcare and Extended Schools Service of the County Council has used:

• audit of childcare registered with OfSTED and eligible childcare not registered with OfSTED;

• feedback from providers on vacancy levels and sustainability; • feedback from Childcare Market Officers on the key factors influencing the

sustainability of childcare in different areas across East Sussex; • parents’ Childcare Survey 2007; • Children and Young People’s childcare survey December 2007; • focus group feedback January 2008 – involving parents of children with special

needs, teenage parents, parents from ethnic minorities and parents within targeted communities;

• employers’ childcare survey 2007; • demand recorded from parents making childcare enquiries via KITES family

information service; • monitoring opening and closure of childcare places; • feedback from Job Centre Plus about clients looking for childcare; • population data from East Sussex in Figures


This consultation document comments on the gaps that have been identified and suggests priorities for development. It is being used to consult parents, childcare providers, employers, schools, other statutory agencies, eg Health and local community projects. The extensive source data tables can be made available upon request. The feedback you can give is very important to help confirm the analysis and confirm those gaps and priorities. This will help East Sussex County Council to plan (along with our partners) how to most effectively close those gaps. Following this consultation:

1) further analysis will be undertaken of the data and comments provided so far, especially the additional information from children and parent focus groups;

2) amendments will be made to the full analysis;

3) a final report will be produced;

4) this report will then inform an action plan to deliver new childcare places and to sustain existing childcare places;

5) this action plan will be reviewed quarterly;

6) the report will be updated annually and a revised action plan produced;

7) another full childcare sufficiency assessment will be completed by March

2011.


2. OVERALL CHILDCARE SUPPLY IN EAST SUSSEX (See Appendix 1 for definitions of a childcare place.) In East Sussex there are approximately 25,000 children aged under 5 years, an average of 5,000 in each year group, approximately 28,000 children aged 5–9 years and a further 30,000 aged 10-15 years. Only provision for children aged under 8 years needs to be registered with OfSTED. Full Day Care and Extended Day Pre-schools for children aged 0-5 years There are 180 providers registered with OfSTED as full day care (ie provision which is open for children aged 0-5 for more than 4 hours per day) with a total of 6,015 places. There are 2,368 childcare places available for 10 hours or more. There are extended day pre-schools with a total of 1,495 places offering between 5 and 9 hours per day. 5,043 of these places can actually be accessed 5 days a week with the same provider. The majority of full day care and extended hours pre-schools charge in the range of £3- £4 per hour. Pre-Schools/Playgroups There are 79 OfSTED registered pre-schools (ie provision which is open for children aged 0-5 for less than 4 hours per day) with a total of 1,919 places, of which 1,519 are available 5 days a week with the same provider. However, many only operate during school term-time, ie for between 33 and 38 weeks per year. The majority of sessional or part-time (2-4 hour) pre-schools charge in the range of £1- £3 per hour. Early Years Education Entitlement (EYEE) This is available for parents of children with a child aged 3 or 4 years to help provide a free early years education place for their child. This can only be provided by OfSTED registered providers of childcare for 3 and 4 year-olds and by OfSTED registered maintained and independent schools, all of whom deliver Foundation Stage education. There are 278 EYEE providers made up of 25 childminders, 128 private businesses, 101 voluntary (or charitable) organisations and 17 independent schools, and 7 Children’s Centres; with a total declared capacity of 8,770 places. (This is in addition to 17 maintained school nursery classes and 146 reception classes.) Many full day care providers offer more than one EYEE session per day. Across East Sussex there is a 97.2% take-up of EYEE funded education by 4 year-old children and an 88.8% take-up of EYEE funded education by 3 year-olds. On a District and Borough level there is slightly less overall take-up, which possibly reflects children


accessing providers within another local authority such as Kent, Brighton & Hove and West Sussex. Childminders There are 526 OfSTED registered childminders, with a total of 2,280 places. In addition, childminders care for children over 8. The majority of these places are available to children during the school holidays. Childminders provide the majority of care for children outside 8 am–6 pm, overnight and at weekends. This is provided for children of all ages, and there are 740 such places offered across East Sussex. The average cost for full-time (which is 50 hours of childcare per week (8 am-6 pm) is £175. Children aged over 5 years do not tend to be full-time as they attend school. The average cost per place is £3.50-£4.00 per hour. After School Clubs for children aged 5–14 years There are 73 After School Clubs, with a total of 1,322 places. Only provision for children aged under 8 years needs to be registered with OfSTED. (Schools also provide a variety of after school activity clubs such as homework and sports clubs – as these are not guaranteed to run to the end of the working day, these activity clubs are not counted within this assessment.) The average cost per place is £1.00-£3.00 per hour. Breakfast Clubs for children aged 5-14 years There are 62 Breakfast Clubs, with a total of 1,226 places. The majority of breakfast club places do not need to be registered by OfSTED and only provision for children aged under 8 years needs to be registered with OfSTED. On average they can provide for approximately 24 children. The average cost per place is £1.00-£3.00 per hour. Holiday Play Schemes for children aged 5–14 years There are 73 Holiday Play Schemes, with a total of 2,194 places. Only provision for children aged under 8 years needs to be registered with OfSTED. Many providers are not open every holiday period and many are not open for a full working day. The average cost per place is £1.00-£3.00 per hour. Other provision – specialised provision for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) aged 5-18 years There are 8 inclusive holiday playschemes which provide for children with significant needs, and 3 specialist after school clubs.


3. OVERALL PARENTAL DEMAND IN EAST SUSSEX (The percentages used reflect the survey results with a statistical significance) 66% of parents had used formal or informal childcare within the previous week. The most common form of childcare used by parents in East Sussex is a friend or relative and 34% of parents do not use any form of childcare. 85% of parents do not use holiday playschemes and those who do most commonly use them for only 2 days per week. (This seems to reflect the sustainability issues of many holiday playscheme providers.) 30% of parents use childcare to enable them to work part-time but only 24% to work full-time, and 21% choose to use formal childcare to benefit their child. 46% travelled less than one mile to their formal childcare provider; 26% between 1 and 2 miles; 16% between 2 and 5 miles; only 6% travel more than 5 miles; and 3% receive care at home. Over 87% of parents using formal childcare (92% of parents using day nurseries) said it met their needs when going to work, training or education; less than 10% stated it did not meet their needs. The 3 main reasons for this were the hours of childcare were unsuitable (35%), the type was unsuitable (13%), and the cost (12%). 54% of parents with more than one child did not find this an additional barrier to accessing childcare, but 27% of all parents found the cost a barrier. Generally, as more hours of childcare are needed more parents found cost a barrier. Somewhat unsurprisingly, the main focus of many comments was on the inflexibility and unsuitability of the hours during which childcare is available and, because of this, parents find it hard to maintain full-time employment or to work as many hours as they would like to.

`Nursery follows school hours which don’t match the needs of a working mum’.

`On occasions when I might have meetings or training, I might not be able to get home until 7.00pm and childcare providers shut at 5.30.’

Comments on the cost of childcare did state that they found the available childcare too expensive or that they had too many children to make formal childcare viable.

`Where I live, it is in a village in a rural area with limited childcare anyway. It is just expensive basically if you are going to put your child in childcare. The cost cancels out

what you are earning’ For parents who are not using childcare it is important to note that 31% of parents have told us that the reason they have not taken up work, training or education is not connected to childcare.


Only 16% thought cost was a barrier and only 9% felt the hours offered prevented them from taking up opportunities. Although 46% of parents told us that they were more likely to return to work if they found suitable childcare, 40% told us that they would not be more likely. Parents (98%) told us that the most important factors when choosing their childcare were:

• safety measures and security; • friendliness of environment and staff.

61% of parents rate being close to work, training or education as important. Interestingly, when the survey results were examined by the five District and Borough areas there were no significant differences in terms of provision meeting current needs or otherwise.


4. DEMOGRAPHIC OVERVIEW East Sussex covers an area of 1,725 square kilometres (666 square miles) and includes the districts of Eastbourne, Hastings, Lewes, Wealden and Rother. Key trends Over the past year, there have been positive signs in the county of: • people’s skills improving; • high value added sectors growing; • a greater percentage of residents in work; • more people working from home; • the gap reducing between people on high incomes and people on low incomes; • household incomes increasing; and • the quality of housing improving. However, significant differences between East Sussex and the rest of the South East region have generally not reduced, and the county still faces a number of serious social, economic and environmental challenges, including:

• slight increase in unemployment; • longer journeys to work; • the economy not performing well; • a shortage of land available for business development; • continuing pressure on the housing market from net in-migration (the number of

people moving into the county less the number moving out); • high house prices and low earnings leading to a very high gap in what people can

afford; and • not enough new affordable housing available. The proportion of children (aged 0-19) in the population ranges from just 6.8% in Meads ward to 26% in Hollington. East Sussex has the highest rate of natural decrease in population (more deaths than births) of any shire county in England in relation to the size of its population. Rother has the highest rate out of all the districts in the county.


5. SPECIFIC FACTORS IMPACTING ON CHILDCARE The demand for childcare is impacted by a number of factors in East Sussex. These factors have been used to analyse the statistical data for each District and Borough area (and Local Partnerships for Children). Demographics – the population make-up of each area Employment - levels and availability Housing – both existing and planned developments Social Deprivation – especially the parental desire to seek work or education,

and the number of lone parents Transport – the level of reliance on public transport Isolated communities - Rural communities – the different needs from the urban

centres of Eastbourne and Hastings Current demand – this impacts on the sustainability of existing childcare

providers Level of involvement by schools –

the development of extended schools which are providing a range of community services for children and families

The following pages give highlighted childcare supply and demand issues by District and Borough. If there are areas within a District and Borough with statistically different responses for either supply or demand issues, these are described whenever possible by Local Partnerships for Children. These areas are outlined in the maps of each area.


6. Eastbourne Summary Population 16,376; aged 0-4 years: 4,802; aged 5-9 years: 5,037; aged 10-15years: 6,537. This table shows the number of childcare providers in Eastbourne listed by the type of provision. Summary of Eastbourne parental demand issues Respondents living in Eastbourne are more likely than those living in Lewes to have used a day nursery, and more likely to have used any form of childcare than those in Hastings. In particular, parents are more likely than those living in Hastings to use playschemes during the school holidays. Parents responded positively that the majority of their current needs were being met, but those not currently working stated that cost was the biggest barrier.

Providers Places Childminders 107 464 Full Daycare 34 1199 Holiday Playscheme

16 548

Out of School Club - After School

20 275

Out of School Club – Breakfast

12 211

Sessional Pre-School

10 236

Parents living in Eastbourne are more likely than any other area to travel 1-2 miles to reach their childcare and 11% travel 2-5 miles. Eastbourne is the area with the second highest use of a car, with 63% driving to childcare and the second highest (50%) walking to their childcare. Summary of Eastbourne childcare supply issues Eastbourne generally has a good mixture of provision. There are limited places for group care before 8.00 am. There is limited group full day care for children aged 0-30 months, although this age range is well provided by childminders. There are very limited Holiday Play Schemes especially for parents working full time. The only unsociable hour provision is with childminders, and there is a potential gap for overnight childcare. Venue suitability and cost is generally a problem for providers. Out of school care to match the working day is at best sporadic and there is a clear gap for Breakfast and After School Provision for children aged 11+.


7. Hastings Summary Population 16,853; aged 0-4 years: 4,770; aged 5-9 years: 5,289; aged 10-15years: 6,794. This table shows the number of childcare providers in Hastings listed by the type of provision. Summary of Hastings parental demand issues Respondents living in Hastings are more likely than those living in any other area to state they did not use any form of childcare. They are also less likely to use other school based activities. In particular, parents are least likely to use playschemes. Hastings parents are most likely to state that disabled access is important and a high percentage (67%) considered proximity to their place of work, training or education is important. Parents in Hastings are more likely to say they would return to work if they could find suitable childcare.


7 118


7 171


13 319


5 123

Parents living in Hastings are more likely to travel further to reach their childcare than those in Rother, but only 3% travel over 5 miles. Hastings has one of the highest number of car users, with only 33% walking to their childcare. Summary of Hastings childcare supply issues Hastings generally has a mixture of provision but is very variable across the town. There are limited places for group care before 8.00 am. There is limited group full day care for children aged 0-30 months, although this age range is well provided by childminders. There are very limited Holiday Play Schemes, especially for parents working full time. The only unsociable hour provision is with childminders and there is a potential gap for overnight and weekend childcare. New housing development has created a gap in Hastings North for both full day care and holiday playschemes. Out of school care does not routinely match the working day and there is a clear gap for After School Provision, especially for children aged 11+.


8. Lewes summary Population 16,738; aged 0-4 years: 4,670; aged 5-9 years: 5,203; aged 10-15 years: 6,865. This table shows the number of childcare providers in Lewes listed by the type of provision. Summary of Lewes parental demand issues Respondents living in Lewes are one of 2 areas with the lowest need for childcare near their place of work, training or education. Parents living in Lewes are more likely to travel under 1 mile to their childcare provider. Only 25% travel 1-2 miles and only 3% travel over 5 miles. Lewes has the highest percentage walking to childcare, with 53%.


10 463


12 221


11 143


17 366

Summary of Lewes childcare supply issues Lewes generally has a mixture of provision but this is very variable across the very different areas of the District. There are limited places for group care before 8.00 am and after 6.00 pm. There is limited group full day care for children aged 0-30 months, although this age range is well provided for by childminders, and Peacehaven offers a higher percentage of group baby care than most LPCs. There are overall limited Holiday Play Schemes, especially for parents working full time, except for Newhaven and Peacehaven with more places for children aged over 8 years. In the county, Newhaven has the highest availability of Out of School provision. The only unsociable hours provision is with childminders and there is an identified gap for overnight and weekend childcare. Out of school care does not routinely match the working day and there is a clear gap for After School Provision, especially for children aged 11+. Alfriston has no provision for under 2s. 2–5 years provision is sessional and, due to accessibility problems, can only open 4 days per week. East Dean has no provision for under 5s or 5-9 year-olds. There is a consistent gap for Holiday Play Schemes, Breakfast Clubs and After School Clubs for the 11+ age band.


9. Wealden Summary Population 26,748; aged 0-4 years: 7,211; aged 5-9years: 8,441; aged 10-15years: 11,096. (Note: Wealden has a significantly higher population than any other district.) This table shows the number of childcare providers in Wealden listed by the type of provision. Summary of Wealden parental demand issues Respondents living in Wealden are the most likely to have used a pre-school. Parents responded positively that the majority of their current needs were being met. The majority of parents stated that the provision of childcare would not make them likely to enter work, training or education. Reasons for not taking up work, training or education were mostly listed as not relating to childcare; it was identified that it related to unsuitable hours.


30 796


24 470


18 390


34 877

Parents living in Wealden are more likely than any other area to be prepared to travel the furthest (over 5 miles) to reach their childcare, with also the highest number (21%) travelling 2-5 miles. Wealden is the area with the highest use of a car, with 73% driving to childcare. Summary of Wealden childcare supply issues Wealden has the most provision for all ages of any District, but this reflects the larger population and not necessarily the number of available places per head of population. In fact, Hailsham and Uckfield show heavy concentrations of childminders. There are a variety of places for before 8.00 am and after 6.00 pm but a gap for older children. There is a range of group based full day and sessional care for children aged 0-30 months, although this age range is also well provided by childminders. There is a reasonable range of Holiday Play Schemes but it is unclear how well this matches the needs for parents working full time. There is a potential gap for overnight childcare. There is a clear gap for Breakfast and After School Provision for children aged 11+. The extensive proposals for new housing within Wealden will challenge areas where currently there appears to be sufficient childcare.


10. Rother Summary Population 14,416; aged 0-4 years: 3,611; aged 5-9years: 4,624; aged 10-15years: 6,181. (Note: Rother has the smallest population of any district and the largest geographical area) This table shows the number of childcare providers in Rother listed by the type of provision. Summary of Rother parental demand issues Rother has the highest percentage (71%) of parents who need childcare near their place of work, training or education. Parents in Rother are more likely to state that cost prevented them from entering work, training or education and more parents than any other area stated that the reason for not taking up childcare related to unsuitable hours.


10 257


10 185


8 163


13 317

Parents living in Rother are more likely than any other area to be prepared to travel under 1 mile (55%). Summary of Rother childcare supply issues Rother has the least provision for all ages of any District. In fact, all areas show gaps in all types of childcare provision. Where there is some provision, those providers often struggle to be sustainable. There is no provision covering unsociable hours of before 8.00 am and after 6.00 pm and no overnight childcare is available, even with childminders.


11. SEN/DISABILITY Inclusive childcare places are offered for children aged 0-5 years across East Sussex and, therefore, any gaps will be considered along with mainstream. There may be a shortage of suitable places for some severely disabled children. There is a variety of specialist and mainstream childcare places for children over 5 years. One provider, a Community Interest Company (CIC) is currently providing childcare to over 100 of our most disabled young people, principally through holiday play-schemes. This year’s evaluation found that the service provided by the CIC was valued by children, young people and parents, and initial feedback would seem to indicate a similar response: “Please keep it running all holidays”, “it’s a wonderful service; I hope it goes on forever”;” The club is a bonus for my child who attends and my other child who then has more freedom”;” really exciting and good fun - saw all my friends” were some of the comments received in the evaluation. To date, the objective has been to establish provision that would allow extended special school schemes to be available across the breadth of the county. There have been other successful affordable holiday schemes and after school activities within special and mainstream schools in the county. A bursary fund exists to support providers and aid the inclusion of children with SEN/disabilities into mainstream provision. A specialist SEN/Disability Childminder Network will offer parents high quality, trained childminders who will work across the 0-18 years age range with all schools and parents to allow for a flexible alternative to group based care. Whilst the current specialist provision goes a long way to meeting many of the needs of disabled children, young people and their families, it currently does not allow the children attending the schemes sufficient opportunity to socialise and share leisure opportunities with peers who do not attend special schools. In accordance with this, the Community Interest Company has developed an Inclusion Strategy that will allow members to maximise inclusive opportunities for leisure and play within the local community. It is based upon the following objectives: • to open existing provision to children and young people with statements who do not

currently attend the county’s special schools, and who are currently experiencing difficulties in accessing childcare;

• to develop and run co-located clusters of mainstream childcare around our existing

special school provision;

• to organise inclusive activities across the extended school clusters;


• to develop an outreach membership that will allow us to use staff to support children and young people in mainstream settings and activities.


12. GAPS IN THE EARLY YEARS EDUCATION AND CHILDCARE MARKET

The assessment has identified that most parents do not use formal childcare but nearly all parents take up the early years education entitlement. The level of childcare provision currently available reflects the parental level of employment activity in any given area.

All types of childcare within each area need to increase their hours to meet the flexibility parents are seeking, but it is noted that this is not financially viable for all providers. The offer of a longer day is met by a range of providers; this arrangement currently has to be negotiated by parents. It is anticipated that future development plans will need to include providers brokering this arrangement on behalf of parents, especially through parent information points in schools.

The free entitlement for early education is due to increase from 12.5 hours per week to 15 hours per week (by 2010). These hours will also be able to be taken flexibly throughout the week which, for parents of eligible children, will help them to return to work, training or education. There will be a gap where some sessional pre-schools are unable to increase their operational hours.

Immediate priorities to increase the availability of and access to:

baby places, ie for children under 30 months – this can be met through both group care and childminders;

holiday play provision across all ages and all areas;

overnight care in every district.

Holiday Play: in Battle, Rye, North St Leonards, Chailey LPCs After School: in Battle, Rye, South St Leonards, Chailey LPCs Breakfast Club: in Robertsbridge, Battle, Rye LPCs Sessional Pre-School: in East Dean

This will be through providing incentives to providers to expand their existing provision and to recruit new providers. A specific gap is the lack of qualified staff to work with the 5-16 age range.


A Childcare Development Plan will be created for each of the 22 Local Partnerships for Children areas – these plans will address the longer term needs of parents and providers, such as: Employment - Housing – Social Deprivation – Transport – isolated communities - level of involvement by schools – current demand (vacancy levels).

These plans will demonstrate how provision for children 11+ can be supported. This is the hardest to satisfy in finding an age-appropriate, safe place to go after school and in the evenings.

In areas of high unemployment the issue of moving off benefit causes the greatest cost barrier. In areas of East Sussex where there are currently high levels of supply, no new provision will be financially supported by ESCC. The distance parents can or will travel to access their childcare needs further exploration to establish a model of availability. This will be included within the final report.


Appendix 1 What is Childcare? 2.1. Childcare is defined in legislation for the first time in the 2006 Act. Section 18 of the Act defines childcare as “any form of care for a child” including “education … and any other supervised activity” but excluding:

• education or activities provided by a school for a pupil during school hours, unless that pupil has not yet started Key Stage 1 (thereby including nursery and reception classes); • care provided for a child by a parent, step-parent or person with parental responsibility; or any relative; or foster parent (local authority or private); or • care provided by a children’s home, a care home, a hospital or a residential family centre, a young offenders’ institution, a secure training centre, or a secure care home within any of those establishments.

2.2. The 2006 Act removes the legal distinction between early education and childcare for young children aged 0-5 years. From September 2008, all settings, including schools, registered to offer childcare for children from birth to the end of the August following their 5th birthday, will be required to deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage, which integrates learning, development and care. Under the 2006 Act this is referred to as early years provision and comes within the definition of childcare. All references to ‘childcare’ should be read as including ‘early years provision’ for 0-5 year-olds. 2.3. The 2006 Act defines the childcare provided for children from 1 September following the child’s 5th birthday up to the child’s 18th birthday as later years provision. Regulations made under the 2006 Act will create appropriate inspection regimes for these different types of provision. 2.4. Childcare includes some ‘supervised’ provision for under 18 year-olds. Local authorities have a duty to secure access for young people aged 13-19 (extended to 25 for young people with learning difficulties) to sufficient ‘positive’ leisure-time activities. Local authorities will, therefore, need to ensure that they look at all the needs of children and their parents, and secure provision that is both sufficiently reliable to enable parents to work or train and gives children and young people the opportunity to develop skills and contribute. Securing Sufficient Childcare: Guidance for Local Authorities Childcare Act 2006


Draft Childcare Sufficiency Assessment Consultation Response form

Please tick: I am a: Parent Childminder Pre-School

provider Full Day Care

provider

Holiday Playscheme

After School Breakfast Club Independent School

Job Centre Plus

Children’s Centre

District and Borough service

ESCC service

Business Charitable

project Membership

association (childcare provider)

Maintained School

Other Please

specify:

Does this analysis of East Sussex describe your experience of childcare during April 2007 to March 2008? Yes No If your answer is no please provide a comment below:


Does this analysis of the District and Borough areas describe your experience of childcare during April 2007 to March 2008? Yes No If your answer is no please provide a comment below:

Any other comments:

Please return this form by 10 March 2008 to: Ruth Szulecki, Childcare Manager, Early Years, Childcare and Extended Schools Service, St Mary’s House, 52 St Leonards Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 3UU. You can e-mail this form to [email protected]. Please mark the subject area of your e-mail `Consultation Feedback’.


mailto:[email protected]

Wealden District

This map is reproduced from Ordnance Survey material with thepermission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationary Office © Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecutionor civil proceedings. 100019601. 2007.

´

1:190,052Scale:

EYCESS

CROWBOROUGHFDC - 11, SES - 6HPS - 9, ASC - 6BC - 4, CHM - 35

UCKFIELDFDC - 6, SES - 9HPS - 4, ASC - 4BC - 4, CHM - 47

RINGMERFDC - 4, SES - 8HPS - 2, ASC - 4BC- 2, CHM - 11

SEAFORDFDC - 8, SES - 4HPS - 2, ASC - 4BC - 2, CHM - 32

HEATHFIELDFDC - 11, SES - 6HPS - 4, ASC - 2BC - 3, CHM - 20

EASTBOURNE NORTHFDC - 6, SES - 6HPS - 4, ASC - 5BC - 4, CHM - 44

WADHURSTFDC - 8, SES - 0HPS - 4, ASC - 4BC - 2, CHM - 8

HAILSHAMFDC - 5, SES - 5HPS - 4, ASC - 2BC - 2, CHM - 27

Hastings Borough


´

1:37,665Scale:

EYCESS

HASTINGS WESTFDC - 11, SES - 1HPS - 2, ASC - 2BC - 3, CHM - 29

HASTINGS EASTFDC - 6, SES - 2HPS - 2, ASC - 3BC - 5, CHM - 15

SOUTH ST LEONARDSFDC - 9, SES - 1HPS - 2, ASC - 0BC - 3, CHM - 14

NORTH ST LEONARDSFDC - 4, SES - 1HPS - 1, ASC - 2BC - 2, CHM - 14

Lewes DistrictThis map is reproduced from Ordnance Survey material with thepermission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationary Office © Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecutionor civil proceedings. 100019601. 2007.

´

1:119,931Scale:

EYCESS

CHAILEYFDC - 5, SES - 6HPS - 1, ASC - 0BC - 2, CHM - 12

LEWESFDC - 12, SES - 4HPS - 4, ASC - 3BC- 2, CHM - 29

SEAFORDFDC - 8, SES - 4HPS - 2, ASC - 4BC - 2, CHM - 32

RINGMERFDC - 4, SES - 8HPS - 2, ASC - 4BC - 2, CHM - 11

NEWHAVENFDC - 8, SES - 0HPS - 2, ASC - 2BC - 3, CHM - 13

PEACEHAVENFDC - 6, SES - 0HPS - 1, ASC - 2BC - 2, CHM - 25

Rother District


´

1:154,838Scale:

EYCESS

ROBERTSBRIDGEFDC - 6, SES - 1HPS - 1, ASC - 2BC - 0, CHM - 9

RYEFDC - 6, SES - 4HPS - 0, ASC - 2BC - 2, CHM - 18

BATTLEFDC - 6, SES - 2HPS - 0, ASC - 0BC - 0, CHM - 18

BEXHILLFDC - 11, SES - 5HPS - 9, ASC - 5BC - 6, CHM - 29

Eastbourne Borough


´

1:47,263Scale:

EYCESS

EASTBOURNE SOUTHFDC - 24, SES - 4HPS - 11, ASC - 16BC - 7, CHM - 49

EASTBOURNE NORTH EASTFDC - 7, SES - 4HPS - 4, ASC - 3BC - 2, CHM - 39

childcare sufficiency assessment...agenda item no. 5 committee: lead member for learning and school...

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