Issue - meetings

This paper provides an update on how City of York Council is meeting its statutory duty to secure sufficient early years and childcare provision for children aged 0-14 (and up to 18 for disabled children) including the impact of covid on the childcare market.

Resolved: That the content of the report be noted and agreed  before it is shared with elected council members in line with statutory guidance.

Reason:     In order to meet statutory guidance.

The Executive Member considered a report that provided an This paper provides an update on how City of York Council is meeting its statutory duty to secure sufficient early years and childcare provision for children aged 0-14 (and up to 18 for disabled children) including the impact of covid on the childcare market.

The Early Years Sufficiency and Entitlements Manager outlined the report, detailing the challenges faced by the sector. The Executive Member thanked her for the report and asked a number of questions to which she and officers responded that:

The move from automatic allocation to form filling for funded places for 2 year olds was causing a barrier to access for families. The Executive Member undertook to raise the matter with the Minister for Education.

SEND provision for early years was a complex issue and the council was looking at working with providers on the inclusion fund and Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP). They were also looking at attracting new providers into York and there would be an update on this in the next quarterly update. The Executive Member thanked the seven new providers in York and acknowledged the work undertaken to retain experienced staff in the sector.

A summary of the parent survey was given and it was noted that the cost of childcare was an issue. Officers were working with the council Family Information Service (FIS) and communications team on promoting tax free childcare and an update on this in the next quarterly update.

Regarding the drop in the number of 0-5 year olds, the numbers were constantly changing and added to this was a number of factors, including the birth rate.

It was confirmed that the capital infrastructure levy was factored into strategy council wide.

With reference to 28 providers needing support for rising energy costs, the Executive Member noted that he had written to the DfE about it and he undertook to follow this up.

The Executive Member thanked the Early Years Sufficiency and Entitlements Manager for her work in encouraging more people to join the childcare sector.

Resolved: That;

                     i.        The Executive Member write to Education Minister concerning the move from automatic allocation to form filling for funded places for 2 year olds and the barrier to access this is causing families.

                    ii.        The content of the report be noted and agreed before it is shared with elected council members in line with statutory guidance.

                  iii.        The Executive Member notes the work done by officers to meet with DfE and Regional Organisations to raise York’s concerns over funding and retention in the service, and, following on from the consideration of the issue in November, that the final report is briefed to the two local MPs.

Reason:     In order to meet statutory guidance.