In the Spring Budget 2023 the government
announced the biggest investment in childcare in history, doubling
the amount they expect to spend over the next few years from around
£4 billion to around £8 billion each year. The
childcare expansion Programme has two projects:
Wraparound childcare n Expansion of the free entitlement to working
parents.
The LA has received notification of both capital and revenue
funding to support the two childcare expansion projects from the
DfE.
Based on the current capacity within the Early Years service, DMT
have approved the identified need to increase capacity within the
Early Years Service to 1) Analyse ongoing parental demand and
sufficiency for both projects 2) Monitor sufficiency of places at
ward level 3) Increase the amount of places available in order to
meet demand 4) be able to process provider claims inline with
published deadlines 5) continue to provide support to parents and
childcare providers in the borough 5) provide advice support and
guidance to parents and EY providers 6) be able to develop,
implement and deliver a capital programme for both projects 7) to
meet its statutory duties in line with the Childcare Act.
Decision type: Key
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Notice of proposed decision first published: 26/01/2024
Decision due: 24 Jan 2024 by Executive Director Children and Young People (Director of Childrens Services)
Lead member: Cabinet Member - Children and Young People
Contact: Rachel Peterson, Learning Support Apprentice Email: rachel.peterson@oldham.gov.uk.
Consultation process
If approved, this capacity would strengthen
Oldham’s Childcare Expansion projects and the delivery plan
whilst ensuring that statutory duties relating to the Childcare Act
are met. This option poses no risk to the council as the three
posts will be funded through the EY revenue grant and the one
permanent post will be funded through the retained EY block DSG,
modelling will ensure that the cost can be met