Contact: Tracey Messer, Tel 01962 813872, email: [email protected]

1 Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

That the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services approves the revised implementation plan for the procurement of childcare within children's centres in Hampshire.

2 Reason

2.1 This decision supports the following Hampshire County Council priorities:

"Making Hampshire safer and more secure for all" - by establishing childcare within children's centres that meet national care standards.

"Maximising well-being" - by establishing childcare within children's centres which promotes the social and emotional development of vulnerable children

"Enhancing our quality of place" - through the development of additional childcare places to meet local need.

2.2 The decision supports the following Aims of the Children Act:

Being healthy

Childcare delivered through children's centres will need to promote healthy eating and physical development as part of the delivery of the Birth to Three Framework and the Foundation Stage Curriculum.

Staying safe

Childcare delivered through children's centres will meet the national care standards which stipulate requirements regarding safe environments and child protection procedures.

Making a positive contribution

Childcare delivered through children's centres will provide additional support to enhanced programmes to promote children's social and emotional development.

Economic well being

Extending childcare provision through children's centres will lead to additional job opportunities and enable parents/carers to take up employment/study.

3 Other Options considered and rejected:

3.1 To follow an open tender approach to the procurement of childcare. This approach would have presented a risk to the existing childcare providers and would have delayed the designation process for Phase II children's centres.

3.2 To anticipate existing childcare providers would meet the children's centres childcare offer and therefore not apply a procurement process. Such an arrangement would leave the delivery of childcare completely open to market forces thereby presenting a risk to the local authority.

Following an open market approach would make it difficult to satisfy the additional children's centre expectations placed upon childcare providers such as the requirements to meet, the needs of vulnerable children within their setting or hosting/promoting additional activities for parents.

4 Conflicts of Interest declared by the decision maker or other Executive Member consulted

4.1 None.

5 Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee -

5.1 None.

6 Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent -

6.1 This is not required.

Approved by: Date:

........................................

Councillor David Kirk

Executive Lead Member for Children's Services (Education)