Issue - meetings

As detailed in the recommendation.

Councillor Jones introduced the Free Childcare Offer report and explained that the aim of the Offer was to mitigate against the effects of poverty on outcomes for children and to reduce inequalities.

            The Childcare Offer would, by the end of the current Welsh Assembly in 2021, 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.  To date 152 applications had been received via an automated application process which enabled parents to register on line and self-select registered childcare providers from the registered 122.  The original figure of 441 children was extended to a potential 748 children, with the aim to maximise the grant for Flintshire families.

            The Chief Officer (Social Services) added it had been a challenging but rewarding process with significant progress being made.  The report outlined the risks to the project, such as not having sufficient childcare places for 748 children; not signing up enough parents to achieve the target number; and holiday provision.

            The Chief Officer (Education) paid credit to the Early Years and Family Support Team and the Early Entitlement Team who had undertaken the required work on this project.  Welsh Government (WG) feedback had been positive, noting that Flintshire had overcome some of the challenges that other authorities had not been able to. The comments were echoed by Councillor Jones.

            In response to a question by Councillor Attridge, the Chief Officer (Social Services) explained that there was no financial commitment required from the Council and the scheme was cost neutral. 

RESOLVED:

That the updated report on the Council’s early implementation of the Childcare Offer be received and the progress made be acknowledged.