|
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. The Assessment was consulted upon between November and December 2008. The Childcare Sufficiency Assessment is available to download below.  Childcare Sufficiency
Assessment, Carmarthenshire(October 2008) (size=5Mb) The Assessment details supply of and demand for childcare across the county as a whole. The Assessment aims to address inconsistencies in the supply of and demand for childcare. Additional childcare places are 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. A partnership action plan has been developed and will inform planning and prioritisation of future targeted childcare development over the next two years. The Assessment will be reviewed on an annual basis and repeated every three years. For further information about Carmarthenshire’s Childcare Sufficiency Assessment or Action Plan please contact: Lisa Grice, Children’s Partnership Officer on 01267 246555. |