Issue - meetings

Forward Plan Ref: 2014/035

Contact: Debbie Rouget, Early Years & Childcare Sufficiency & Access Manager Tel (01865) 810617

Report by Director for Children’s Services (CMDCEF6).

The last review of rents and lease arrangements for early years providers’, operating on school premises, was carried out and approved by the Council’s Executive in 2003

Since 2003 there have been many significant developments and changes in national policy for both funded early education and the provision of childcare.

These include the introduction of statutory sufficiency duties for Local Authorities to secure sufficient provision and an expansion of childcare provided on school sites.

 The current coalition government has a clear desire to see access to more childcare on school sites, providing an 8am to 6pm offer of integrated education and care for children. The  Children and Families Bill 2013 paves the way to implementing a range of proposals, including making easier for schools to offer out of school care, either directly themselves or through 3rd parties.

These changes are against a current background of the availability and affordability of childcare being a significant concern of all the main political parties, local authorities, families, organisations concerned with the well-being of children and families, and many providers.

In light of the above there is a need for the Council to provide clear, consistent and transparent additional guidance to support both schools and providers.

The Cabinet Member for Children, Education & Families is RECOMMENDED to:-

(a)          confirm support for the principle that school premises should be available for suitable community and extended services, particularly access to more childcare on school sites, providing an 8am to 6pm offer of integrated education and care for children;

(b)         implement the premises charges contained in Annexe 1 for arrangements being made between community schools and 3^rd party early years and childcare providers, where the parties themselves cannot agree the charges, and when other council premises are used to deliver these services;

(c)          recommend the arrangements contained in Annex 1 to all  other schools, including those operated by Diocesan authorities (voluntary controlled and voluntary aided schools) and academies in Oxfordshire.

Agreed.