Issue - meetings

The Committee welcomed the progress made with implementation of the Childcare offer and look forward to the proposed extension of the pilot to all areas within Flintshire.

The Interim Chief Officer (Education and Youth) introduced a report to provide an update on the developing Free Childcare Officer and seek agreement to extend the Offer to other areas of Flintshire.  She invited the Early Years and Family Support Manager to present the report.

                        The Early Years and Family Support Manager provided background information and advised that the Offer was currently being piloted in specific areas within Flintshire and that the Authority was working with the Welsh Government to develop local models for the further full national roll out.  She gave a presentation on the Funded Childcare Offer for 3 and 4 year olds which covered the following main points:

• the value of quality childcare
• what is the Childcare Offer
• what does it mean for a parent
• what is early education
• how will parents know if they are eligible
• aims of the pilot/early implementers
• can a parent choose any childcare provider
• will a parent have to pay for anything
• how do parents apply 

                        The Chairman thanked the Early Years and Family Support Manager for her work and an informative presentation.  

In response to a question from Councillor Kevin Hughes around the list of areas where people could apply for free childcare which had been circulated to Members, the Early Years and Family Support Manager agreed to check that the list was accurate and inform the Committee following the meeting.  Councillor Hughes also asked when the scheme would be provided in rural areas.  Officers advised that the WG was committed to a full national roll out of the funded childcare offer by the end of the current Welsh Assembly in 2021, however, appropriate resources would need to be provided.   The Interim Chief Officer reported there had been positive feedback from the WG regarding the progress of the scheme in Flintshire. 

            Members spoke in support of the Childcare Offer and expressed their agreement to extend the offer to other areas of Flintshire.  Mrs. Rebecca Stark asked that the Committee’s thanks be forwarded to the Team for their hard work in implementing the Childcare offer.  The Early Years and Family Support Manager agreed to pass on the favourable comments which had been expressed by the Committee to her team at the next meeting of the Task Group.

RESOLVED:

The Committee welcomed the progress made with implementation of the Childcare offer and look forward to the proposed extension of the pilot to all areas within Flintshire.