Working towards securing 'Sufficient Childcare' ...

The Childcare Act 2006 underpins the Welsh Assembly Government's Childcare Strategy "Childcare is for Children", and gives local authorities a key role in shaping their local childcare market. It reinforces the partnership with providers from the private, voluntary, independent and maintained sectors that are necessary to create a strong sustainable and diverse childcare market that meets the needs of parents and carers.

From April 2008, all local authorities across Wales have a statutory duty to secure sufficient childcare so far as is reasonably practical, for parents and carers in their area. In preparation for this duty, a detailed assessment of the supply of and demand for childcare in the area must be carried out.

In Carmarthenshire the assessment of childcare sufficiency was undertaken between March and October 2008. Over 700 parents took part in the Assessment. Carmarthenshire County Council is now required to consult on the draft Assessment so that parents, children, providers, employers and the wider community have an opportunity to comment on the assessment and highlight relevant issues. The Childcare Sufficiency Assessment and consultation questionnaire are available to download below.

Childcare Sufficiency Assessment, Carmarthenshire (October 2008) (size=5Mb) Childcare Sufficiency Assessment Consultation Questonnaire (size=150kb)

The Assessment details supply and demand across the county as a whole . The aim of the Assessment is to address inconsistencies in the supply of and demand for childcare. Additional childcare places will be required in some areas of the County; the process through which this can be achieved must build on existing provision so as to develop a robust and sustainable local childcare market and not disadvantage existing providers of quality childcare.

The consultation period will run from: 10th November – 19th December 2008.

A partnership action plan will be developed over the forthcoming months to work towards implementing the recommendations set out in the Carmarthenshire’s Childcare sufficiency Assessment.

For further information about Carmarthenshire’s Childcare Sufficiency Assessment please contact:

Lisa Morgan, Children’s Partnership Officer on 01267 224283.