Agenda item

(To receive a report from Michelle Andrews, Children's Service Manager – Early Years, which provides the Committee with an overview of the Government's commitment to 30 hours per week of funded education for working parents of 3 and 4 year olds, and to share Lincolnshire's current position regarding the implementation of this offer)

The Committee gave consideration to a report from Michelle Andrews, Children's Service Manager, Early Years, which provided an overview of the Government's commitment to 30 hours per week of funded education for working parents of 3 and 4 year olds; and advised of Lincolnshire's current position regarding the implementation of the offer.

In guiding the Committee through the report the Lead Consultant, Early Years Entitlement made reference to the background to the government's commitment to doubling the amount of free childcare from 15 hours to 30 hours from September 2017.

Details relating to the eligibility criteria were shown on pages 33 and 34 of the report.

Appendix A to the report provided an overview of helping to pay for childcare.

It was reported that in Lincolnshire 582 private and independent providers, 22 Academies and 49 schools were now registered to deliver the extended 30 hours.  It was highlighted that this represented 90% of the funded childcare sector.

The Committee noted that the quality of provision had continued to improve, with 96% of early providers in Lincolnshire being rated as Good or Outstanding at an inspection completed on 31 August 2018.

It was reported that 95% of all 3 and 4 year olds were accessing Early Education places.  It was reported further that the take-up levels by the summer term 2018 had reached 5,322 children; which was above the Department for Education estimate of 5,010 eligible families in Lincolnshire.

The Committee noted that providers had been fully committed to delivering the extended entitlement.

The report advised that Childcare Works continued to deliver the DfE's national support contract for the 30 hours free childcare programme; and that Lincolnshire was actively engaging in the national and regional process, which had helped the local authority to implement the agenda successfully.

The Committee was advised that the local authority had been successful in securing DfE funding to provide a digital solution for childcare providers; and that this had now been fully implemented; and had supported the Early Years Providers to move to a monthly payment process.

It was highlighted that additional funding had been available via the DfE to support localised pressure on places for 30 hours.  It was noted that the local authority had secured £1,594,138 of capital funding from the DfE to develop six capital projects, and to create 259 new 30 hour places in Lincolnshire.

The Committee was advised that following the implementation of the 30 hours free childcare, a parental consultation had been undertaken to establish if the market place in Lincolnshire was meeting the needs of working parents.  Feedback from the survey had indicated that those parents using childcare were happy with the quality and 93% had reported they were satisfied with the quality of childcare used; and 95% reporting that they were satisfied with the childcare arrangements they had in place. 

It was also highlighted that some parents had found the government gateway a frustrating system to use, when confirming eligibility every three months.  It was reported that feedback regarding the government gateway had been fed back to HMRC and the DfE.

During discussion, the following points were raised:-

·        One member provided the Committee with an update on their recent visit to a local nursery school.  Officers responded to questions raised.  The member highlighted that the nursery had been thankful of the support received and thanks were extended to county council staff, with particular mention being made to Julie Grindley;

·        Funding Formula – The Committee was advised that the Lincolnshire Schools' Forum had given consideration to the government funding formula;

·        Some concern was expressed to the document detailed at Appendix A; and to the fact that the average busy parent would find it hard to understand.  One member enquired whether the Council produced any documentation.  The Committee was advised that a toolkit had been developed, and that information had been sent out to staff in the localities, so that they were aware of what was on offer;

·        Problems encountered with the renewal application process – The Committee was advised that the feedback received from some parents had been that the government gateway was a frustrating system to use, especially when reconfirming eligibility criteria every three months.  The Committee was advised further that when parents were experiencing difficulties using the government gateway system, members of the Early Years and Childcare Support team were referring parents to the HMRC customer interaction service through a Freephone telephone service for support.  The Committee also noted that the feedback from parents had been reported back to HMRC and the Department for Education at regional meetings;

·         Access to Early Education places.  The report highlighted that 95% of all 3 and 4 years old were accessing Early Education places.  It was highlighted that for the 30 hours entitlement which had begun in September 2017, the take-up levels by the summer term 2018 had reached 5,322 children, which was above the DfE estimate of 5,010 eligible families in Lincolnshire.  It was noted that the 5% not accessing could be as a result of various reasons, i.e. some parents not working and some had grandparents looking after the child/children; and

·        One member advised from personal experience of the 30 Hours Childcare that the experience had been a very positive one.

The Chairman on behalf of the Committee extended thanks to the Lead Consultant, Early Years Entitlement for a very informative update.

RESOLVED

            That the Delivery of 30 Hours Childcare report be received.