Issue - meetings

That the progress made with the implementation of the Childcare Offer and the proposed extension of the pilot to all areas within Flintshire be noted.

The Early Years and Family Support Manager introduced a report to provide an update on the free Childcare offer programme and to seek agreement  to extend the offer to other areas of Flintshire.  She provided background information and advised that a bespoke system had been built in Flintshire to link in with existing systems, citing Flying Start and  School Admissions as examples, and thanked Jason Snead from the IT department and the Geographic Information System Team for their hard work in ensuring the system was successful in meeting the needs of implementing the scheme.  

The Early Years and Family Support Manager reported on the main areas of consideration, as detailed in the report, around the childcare offer, what it means for a parent, early education, eligibility and aims of the pilot scheme.  She advised that only two applications had been declined to date and that the offer did not include the cost of food or transport.  She reported there had been some challenges but  there had also been good collaboration with the Welsh Government in implementing the Childcare Offer.

In response to a question from Councillor Hilary McGuill the Early Years and Family Support Manager  confirmed there was no cap on the maximum household income for the early implementation offer.  She also advised that the scheme was based on Wards in Flintshire and the website www.childcarechoices.gov.uk  provided a tool to ascertain eligibility by a postcode search.

Councillor Dave Healey welcomed the scheme and commented that it concentrated on the areas of high employment.  He asked whether the scheme had been tested in rural communities in Flintshire to provide assistance to those parents who also required childcare provision.  The Early Years and Family Support Manager acknowledged the points made and  explained that the Team was working hard to identify the  gaps and increase provision in the future.

During discussion the Early Years and Family Support Manager responded to the questions raised by Councillor Dave Mackie around checks on parents eligibility and the risk of not having sufficient childcare settings to meet future need.  It was suggested that postcodes of areas be used when agreeing eligibility in the future.

RESOLVED:

That the progress made with the implementation of the Childcare Offer and the proposed extension of the pilot to all areas within Flintshire be noted.