(i)         that the Torbay Childcare Sufficiency Assessment (September 2017) be approved enabling its publication; and

(ii)        that the Policy Development Decision Group (Joint Commissioning Team) receive an update on progress at a future meeting.

The Childcare Sufficiency Assessment provides an overview of the local child care market, changes in the supply and demand for places and the actions necessary to ensure these are sufficient, accessible child care places in Torbay.

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This decision will come into force and may be implemented on Friday, 17 November 2017 unless the call-in process 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 meet and ensure any report is available and accessible for parents.

The Childcare Sufficiency Assessment 2017 shows that, although there are sufficient places to meet current needs, there are potentially insufficient places to meet future demand, particularly for the extended entitlement for three and four year olds.  It is also the case that, whilst overall capacity is sufficient, some localities may experience demand pressures due to the workings of parental preference.  An action plan is attached to the sufficiency assessment setting out the actions that will be taken to ensure childcare capacity develops in line with demand.

Following its approval, the Childcare Sufficiency Assessment 2017 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.

The Elected Mayor considered the recommendations of the Policy Development and Decision Group (Joint Commissioning Team) made on 6 November 2017 and his decision is set out above.

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