(i)         that the Torbay Childcare Sufficiency Report (September 2019) set out at Appendix 1 to the submitted report be approved and published; and

(ii)        that Cabinet receive an update on the progress of implementing the actions in the Torbay Childcare Sufficiency Report at a meeting in May 2020.

The Childcare Sufficiency Report 2019 provides an overview of the local childcare market, changes in the supply and demand for places and the actions necessary to ensure these are sufficient, accessible child care places in Torbay.  The report has been updated to reflect the changes to Torbay wards which came into effect in May 2019.

The Childcare Sufficiency Report 2019 takes into account significant changes in Government Policy including the Free Early Education Entitlement (FEEE) for disadvantaged two year olds, the universal entitlement (15 hours) for 3 & 4 year olds and the extended entitlement (30 hours) for working parents of three and four year olds which is now in its third year of operation.

The report contains an updated 2018 action plan which identifies progress made, in addition to the new 2019 action plan detailing the actions that will be taken to ensure childcare capacity continues to develop in line with demand.

Following its approval, the Childcare Sufficiency Report 2019 will be published on the Council’s website as well as providing the evidence base for the ongoing dialogue with providers, partners and stakeholders on the development of future capacity.

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This decision will come into force and may be implemented on Monday, 24 November 2019 unless the call-in procedure is triggered (as set out in Standing Orders in relation to Overview and Scrutiny).

The Childcare Act 2006 places a duty on local authorities to secure, so far as is reasonably practicable, sufficient childcare for working parents, or parents who are studying or training for employment, for children aged 0 – 14 years (or up to 18 years for disabled children).

As part of these duties, Torbay Council is required to report annually to Elected Members on the local arrangements to ensure those duties are met and a report is available and accessible for parents.

The full report demonstrates that there are sufficient childcare places to meet the requirements for funded children in Torbay with enough spare capacity to accommodate children aged under 2 who may be accessing a place which their parents pay for.  The report identifies that Torbay does therefore have sufficient capacity to accommodate all children who need a place, although parents may not always be able to access their first choice of provider.

Councillor Law proposed and Councillor Steve Darling seconded a motion which was agreed unanimously by the Cabinet as set out above.

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