Issue - items at meetings - Two Year Old Early Education Entitlement

Report of the Strategic Director, People (copy attached)

            That the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People:

(1) Agrees to the strategy to gradually increase the number of two year olds offered free childcare starting  from April 2012 to reach 600 by September 2013 and to increase the hourly rate from £4.85 to £5.00 an hour;

(2) Agrees to sustain existing, good quality voluntary sector childcare providers in areas where additional places will be needed;

(3) Notes the financial risk of the additional revenue funding needed to meet the statutory duties (estimated to be over £1m in 2013/214), and possible capital implications if it is decided to increase provision in certain areas of the city.

40.1    The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Strategic Director, People detailing the proposed arrangements in respect of early education entitlement fo two year olds.

40.1    The Council would have a statutory duty to fund free childcare places for the 20%most disadvantaged two year olds from September 2013. In 2011/12 the Council funded 135 two year olds to attend childcare 10 hours a week 38 weeks a year. that would need to increase to 600 children for 15 hours a week to meet the statutory duty by September 2013. This increase would have significant financial implications. The Government planned to extend the statutory duty to 40%of all two year olds from September 2014. It was anticipated that the level of take up would be around 90%. The childcare had to be with childcare providers registered with Ofsted including childminders who were part of a quality assured group.

40.2    Councillor Marsh referred to the fact that a number of childminders appeared to have some vacancies, whereas there was pressure on nursery places especially in certain parts of the city. Councillor Marsh also referred to the fact that there were also nursery schools attached to schools across the city, asking whether and how this would be factored into the arrangements. It was explained that there was a range of good quality early years provision across the city. There were vacancies with some nurseries and childminders. It was considered that there might be sufficient places across the city but the places were not in the right areas. More places were needed in the most disadvantaged areas of the city and particularly in the east. There were implications for school nursery classes which would be considered as parents might want their children to stay with the same provider. The main eligibility condition was similar to that for free school meals. The Department for Education were working on a web based checker which would enable local authorities to check which families would be eligible.

40.3    Councillor Wealls sought clarification in relation to the funding to be provided by central government. It was explained that the funding for two year olds was not ring-fenced. For 2011/12 and 12/13 the funding had been included in the Early Intervention Grant. The Government had stated that large amounts of  funding had been put into the grant nationally but these amounts were not visible locally because of other funding reductions. The Government had not yet decided on the funding mechanism from April 2013.

40.4    RESOLVED - That the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People:

(1) Agrees to the strategy to gradually increase the number of two year olds offered free childcare starting  from April 2012 to reach 600 by September 2013 and to increase the hourly rate from £4.85 to £5.00 an hour;

(2) Agrees to sustain existing, good quality voluntary sector childcare providers in areas where additional places will be needed;

(3) Notes the financial risk of the additional revenue funding needed to meet the statutory duties (estimated to be over £1m in 2013/214), and possible capital implications if it is decided to increase provision in certain areas of the city.