Agenda item

Report of the Group Director of People

The Group Director of People submitted a report (previously circulated) to inform Members of the findings of the 2022-23 Childcare Sufficiency Review.

Local authorities are required by the Department for Education’s ‘Early Education and Childcare Statutory Guidance for Local Authorities June 2018’ to ensure sufficient childcare as far as is reasonably practicable, for working parents, or parents who are studying or training for employment, for children aged 0-14 or up to 18 for disabled children; and to report annually to elected Members on how they are meeting their duty to secure sufficient childcare and to make this report available and accessible to parents.

It was reported that the childcare market in Darlington was made up of private day nurseries, pre-schools, childminders, out of school clubs, nursery schools and nursery units.  Prior to March 2020, Darlington’s childcare market was fairly stable and the parental take-up rates of the various entitlements was predictable however since the pandemic the picture had become more complex and less predictable.

The most up-to-date census data showed that the total supply of pre-school places (FTE) in the borough in Spring 2022 was 2,476 and the demand for pre-school places (number of children) was 1,719.  There is no overall lack of childcare sufficiency in the borough however it was noted that this supply may vary across wards.

It was also reported that feedback from the childcare sector was that registered holiday provision (not run by schools) was experiencing a decline in take-up and it was unclear yet whether hybrid working was affecting take-up; there had been a slight increase in the number of school registered out of school and breakfast clubs;  the number of registered childminders had declined by 19 per cent since Autumn 2021; from Spring 2022, some private day nurseries had reported an increase in demand for baby places; and there had been a drop in the take-up rate for 2 year olds accessing an Early Years Entitlement place in the Summer 2022 term and a decline in children accessing a Universal Entitlement place in Autumn 2022.

The local authority continued to work with the sector through the Early Years Education Strategy Group and support continued to be provided to the childcare sector via: regular guidance up-dates, virtual and face to face network meetings, public health provider briefings, monthly drop in sessions with public health, a group for early years leads in schools, virtual inclusion panels and individualised support around transitions, setting link officers and an Early Years newsletter.

Additionally, a childcare sufficiency task group meets regularly which includes colleagues from Economic Growth, the Special Educational Needs and Disability Information, Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS), Darlington Association on Disability (DAD), Jobcentre Plus, Learning & Skills, Darlington Families’ Information Service and Children’s Centres.

It was also reported that local providers had indicated that recruitment and retention was an issue in a Childcare Recruitment and Retention survey which was carried out October 2021; and during 2022 early years funding audits had taken place with 13 of the 27 day nurseries and pre-schools in the borough where Managers also confirmed that recruitment and retention were affecting their business. 

In October 2022, the Early Years Team attended the Darlington Jobs Fair to promote childcare as a career and also to ensure people were aware that if they needed childcare to enable them to work, there was help available with childcare costs, such as Families’ Tax Credit. 

Ella long from The Play Hut Day Nursery and Amanda Summers from All Saints Blackwell Pre School attended the meeting to share their views and also on the work they are involved with as part of the Darlington Early Years Education Strategy.

Members questioned how the Council can help raise awareness of the support and assistance available to families and discussed the on-going work to promote assistance with the cost of childcare and  Early Years Entitlements and in particular Tax Free Childcare which in a mini survey of parents/carers at Beaumont Hill Academy revealed that 62 per cent of respondents said they had not heard of schemes to support childcare costs such as Tax Free Childcare and the Universal Credit Childcare Offer. 

Members also discussed the increased costs of living and its effect on both families and the childcare sector; the on-going difficulties in recruitment and retention of staff within the sector and what was being done within the authority to promote childcare as a career; the reducing numbers of childminders which was a national issue and discussed the various reasons for the decline in numbers; discussed the general underfunding within childcare; and Members raised their concerns at the costs of childcare for those children with Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND) and the difficulties in accessing SEND funding.

Members agreed with the priorities for the Local Authority to continue to provide parents with up to date information about financial assistances towards children care costs, including any available tax credits; to work with settings and other interested stakeholders to continually improve the quality of care and make settings/activities more inclusive; and to assist childcare providers by providing information on matters relating to funding and sustainability.

RESOLVED – That the information the findings of the 2022-23 Childcare Sufficiency Review be noted.