Contact: Tracey Messer, Strategic Manager (Childcare and Business Support) 01962 813878, [email protected] and Tracey Sanders, Head of Early Years and Childcare Unit, 01962 812887 [email protected]

1 Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

That the Executive Member for Children & Families agrees the following priorities for action during 2008-2011:

i) Developing out-of-school childcare and in particular summer holiday provision.

ii) Developing sessional and full day care to meet extended flexible entitlement.

iii) Continuing to ensure that childcare is delivered through full core offer children's centres.

iv) Strengthening special educational need (SEN) provision in areas of need including developing provision for children with complex needs requiring short breaks, and promoting the support that is available to children with SEN and disabilities, which enables access to childcare.

v) Considering and implementing strategies to meet the childcare needs of rural communities and of families with atypical working hours.

vi) Reviewing childcare costs and charges and developing models of financial best practice to provide quality of provision and affordability to parents/carers.

vii) Developing systems and processes to provide a quarterly analysis of the childcare market which includes an understanding of parents needs and gaining information regarding economic development within Hampshire.

viii)Reviewing and releasing new childcare start up and sustainability grant programme to reflect new priorities.

ix) Publicising the need for childcare development in areas of insufficient supply, securing local delivery and offering support to new providers.

x) Reviewing the practicalities of producing a combined CSA and School Places Plan and begin a new CSA in 2011.

2 Reason

2.1 This decision supports the following Hampshire County Council priorities:

"Making Hampshire safer and more secure for all" - It is anticipated that this strategy will contribute to crime prevention by offering families increased opportunities to access childcare and therefore access employment. There is also likely to be a longer-term impact upon crime prevention as this strategy aims to offer increased opportunities for children at risk of poor outcomes to access enriched early years and childcare experiences, which in turn will lead to improved outcomes.

"Maximising well-being" - Childcare sufficiency is an important factor in increasing families opportunities to gain employment and contributes to a reduction in childcare poverty. The review of childcare costs improved business support aims to make childcare more accessible to low income families. Additionally, the development of childcare links closely to overall employment strategies and offers people career and continuous professional development opportunities.

Enhancing our quality of place" - The childcare capital funding will help to enhance a variety of childcare provisions within communities.

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

Childcare provision and the support that the Early Education and Childcare Unit gives to childcare providers works towards meeting all of the five outcomes (Being healthy; Staying safe; Enjoying and achieving; Making a positive contribution; Economic well-being).

3 Other Options considered and rejected:

3.1 To select different priorities within the childcare strategy. This would not meet parental needs or our local authority's statutory duties.

3.2 To maintain current levels of childcare. This would not meet parent needs or our local authority's statutory duties.

3.3 To not take an active role in market management. This may meet some parental needs through natural market forces but will be unlikely to meet the local authority's duties especially in relation to developing childcare in areas of deprivation.

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 None.

Approved by: Date:

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

Councillor Mrs P Banks

Executive Member for Children and Families