Childcare Sufficiency Audit 2008

The Childcare Act 2006 expands and clarifies in legislation the vital role local authorities should play as strategic leaders in facilitating the childcare market, first laid out in the Children Act 2004. The 2006 Act reinforces the framework within which they already work – in partnership with private, voluntary and independent (PVI) sector – to shape children’s services. It focuses in particular on sufficient, sustainable and flexible childcare that is responsive to parents needs.

In April 2008 Local Authorities are required to carry out a new duty to provide sufficient, quality, flexible, sustainable childcare for parents and carers (Childcare Act 2006, Section 6) The Childcare Act 2006 defines childcare sufficiency as ‘sufficient to meet the requirement of parents in the (Local Authority’s) area who require childcare in order to enable them

From April 2007 local authorities have a duty (under section 11 of the Childcare Act) to undertake a detailed assessment of the supply of, and demand for, childcare in their area. The assessment identifies where there are gaps in the market and – in consultation with children/young people, parents, communities and employers – plan how to support the market to address them. The Every Child Matters Outcome, Economic Wellbeing, measures the sufficiency of childcare provision to support a reduction in workless households and child poverty.

A draft assessment identifying gaps in childcare provision is available for consultation. Please visit the link on the left to access the assessment and send your comments to the local authority.

An action plan based on the findings of the assessment and your comments will be drawn up to enable the local authority to meet this new duty. The full Childcare Sufficiency Assessment including the action plan will be published and available on this website in April 2008.