Issue - meetings

As detailed in the recommendation.

Councillor Christine Jones introduced the New Child Care Offer report which provided details of Flintshire’s successful bid to become an early adopter of a pilot free child care scheme.

                        By the end of 2021 the Offer would provide working parents with 30 hours of government-funded childcare and early education for 3 and 4 year olds for 48 weeks of the year.  That included 10 weeks within the school holiday period with the aim of supporting families with quality flexible and affordable childcare.  

                        Councillor Bithell welcomed the pilot of the scheme which would support economic regeneration and reduce pressures on family income and help parents to participate in work reducing a family’s risk of poverty.

                        The Chief Officer (Social Services) explained that the scheme would provide the opportunity to 441 children in Year 1 (September 2017 – September 2018) which built on an initial cohort of 75 to 100.  The criteria of eligibility was outlined in the appendix to the report.

                        Councillor Shotton commented that the scheme was significant for working parents and for those wanting to return to work and explained that the initial implementation would take place in Buckley.

RESOLVED:

That Flintshire, as an early implementer of the offer, maximising the opportunity of a grant worth £1.552 million, supporting the full role out of the scheme across Flintshire, benefitting up to 441 three to four year olds and their families, be endorsed.