Agenda item

To update the Forum on the 2022 Childcare Sufficiency Assessment (CSA), to be submitted to the Executive Member and subsequently published on the Bracknell Forest Council website, as required by the authority’s statutory duty to secure sufficient childcare.

The Forum considered a report which updated on the 2022 Childcare Sufficiency Assessment (CSA) which was due to be submitted to the Executive Member and subsequently published on the Bracknell Forest Council website, as required by the authority’s statutory duty to secure sufficient childcare. 

Cherry Hall explained that the data was based on summer 2022 attendance and capacity.  However, the picture had significantly changed since the report was completed, potentially losing two settings at the end of the academic year, meaning that around 50-60 part-time places for 2-, 3- and 4-year-olds would be lost.  The council was also working with a further three providers on their business models to support them to make changes to remain sustainable. 

It had been a difficult time for the sector with significant issues impacting sustainability including recruitment and retention issues.  Part of the problem had been around funding and the increases had not been enough to meet the outgoings, so providers had not been able to attract high quality staff. 

The report still needed to be published as it was accurate at the time it was written.  There had been an increase in the numbers of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and, when the Family Information Service had been doing brokerage for childcare, they have not been able to meet all the requests currently. 

Sue Butler was invited to comment as an Early Years provider.  Sue felt that if the current challenging conditions in Early Years were to continue, there would be concerns relating to the sustainability of the private provider.  Sue also commented that there has been a constant turnover of staff and outcomes for children had been impacted.  Cherry added that it was a national issue.  If Bracknell Forest lost lots of private and voluntary settings, it was unclear how it would meet childcare sufficiency needs. 

The Forum noted the statutory duty for the LA to secure sufficient childcare and to submit a report to council members on how it was meeting that duty.  The Forum enquired whether the suggestion was that Bracknell was not going to be able to deliver sufficient childcare.  Cherry replied that, when the report was written, the team was confident that there was sufficient childcare, but they were now looking at what needed to happen to maintain sustainability given the recent developments.  There had been an overall decline in child numbers, but more families had been taking up the 30-hour places.  The team had been doing more surveys with providers to understand the pressures. 

The Forum asked whether there were any other solutions.  Cherry explained that she had been working with another organisation on the rent that they were charging.  One of the providers wanted to increase their hours and the council were negotiating with the owner of the building for a reduced rate until the provider built up numbers.  Recruitment was the biggest difficulty and there were no quick fixes, but it had been part of the discussions with the Local Government Association (LGA) as well.  Councillor Barnard added that this was a high priority, and he would continue to raise it with the MP and with the LGA. 

RESOLVED to NOTE the CSA.  The Forum also noted its concerns about childcare sufficiency and sustainability going forward.