Agenda item

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Children and Family Services which outlined the County Council’s statutory duties with regards to childcare and provide an overview of the work being undertaken by the Early Years Inclusion and Childcare Service to support the delivery of the expansion of early education and childcare provision. A copy of the report, marked ‘Agenda Item 8’, is filed with these minutes.

Arising from discussion, the following points were raised:

(i)        Concern was raised regarding whether a sufficient number of childcare places would be available in order to meet the demand expected as a result of the expansion of childcare policy. The Director assured members that she was confident that the Council would meet its statutory duties in line with the policy change. Members noted that a sufficiency survey which had been undertaken by Department for Education did not represent the whole picture in Leicestershire. The Department would work with providers to increase the level of provision. Expanded childcare provision would be supported by breakfast cubs and wraparound care.

(ii)       In response to a question relating to the number of Leicestershire childminders of which had left the sector, the Director advised that the most common reason for this had been an increase in provision costs. Members noted that grants were available to new childminders joining the profession. The Service would continue to provide support to new childminders joining the sector. It was agreed that the Director would provide Mr. R. Allen CC with the contact details of the Department’s Early Years Business Development Adviser in order to facilitate further discussions relating to opportunities in this area.

(iii)      A question was raised in relation to the number of childcare apprentices who had dropped out of the course. There remained a high dropout rate, and the Service was undertaking work with colleges and other educational settings to understand the reasons for this in order to reduce future attrition. It was agreed that the Director of Children and Family Services would provide members of the Committee with information relating to the reasons behind apprentices having dropped out of childcare apprenticeships.

(iv)      With regards to breakfast clubs, 18 Leicestershire primary schools had become early adopters of the government scheme, although some had withdrawn from the scheme. The Cabinet Leader Member for Children and Families emphasised that breakfast clubs were not means tested and the level of funding provided was often not sufficient to meet costs within schools. It was agreed that the Director of Children and Family Services would provide members of the Committee with information relating to the reasons why some schools had chosen to not continue to provide breakfast clubs, despite being early adopters of the scheme.

(v)       Members noted that in 2021/22 the Early Years Block of Dedicated, Schools Grant (DSG) recorded a deficit of £4.26 million, and as of March 2024, this deficit had reduced to £3.1m. The Department planned to clear this deficit over four years, by March 2027.

(vi)      In response to a question relating to contingency funding, the Director stated that historically, the Council had not held a contingency fund. However, the Department was holding a contingency fund which was funding that could be utilised in order to respond to the financial implications of changes in the number of children taking up the entitlements. The budget was dependent on census information. As a result, the level of funding received from Government could be less than the amount required to be paid to providers to support the actual number of children who had taken up their entitlement.

RESOLVED:

(a)      That the Council’s statutory duties with regards to childcare and the overview of the work being undertaken by the Early Years Inclusion and Childcare Service to support the delivery of the expansion of early education and childcare provision, be noted.

(b)      That the Director of Children and Family Services be requested to provide members of the Committee with information relating to the reasons behind apprentices having dropped out of childcare apprenticeships.

(c)       That the Director of Children and Family Services be requested to provide members of the Committee with information relating to the reasons why some schools had chosen to not continue to provide breakfast clubs, despite being early adopters of the scheme.

(d)      That the Director of Children and Family Services be requested to provide Mr. R. Allen CC with the contact details of the Department’s Early Years Business Development Adviser.