Decision details

12.

12.1

12.2

12.3

12.3.1

12.4

12.4.1

12.4.2

13.4

13.4.1

THE CHILDCARE REFORMS (SPRING BUDGET 2023)

The Committee received a report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services which provided Members with an overview of the Childcare Reforms announced in the Spring Budget 2023, sought approval for the Local Authority’s next steps in delivering the requirements of the Childcare Reforms and sought delegations for the agreement to proceed to develop delivery plans in accordance with the Department for Education guidance and implement these.  

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Education, Children and Families Policy Committee:

-       Noted the contents of the report regarding childcare provision and the Childcare Reforms announced in the Spring Budget 2023

-       Approved the Council proceeding to develop the Extended Entitlement Delivery Plan and the Wraparound Delivery Plan as set out in the report

-       To the extent that they require decisions not covered by existing officer delegations, delegate authority to the Strategic Director of Children’s Services to: a. agree and implement the Extended Entitlement Delivery Plan as set out in sections 2.4 and 4 of this report; b. agree and implement the Wraparound Delivery Plan (subject to Department for Education’s approval), as set out in sections 3.4 and 4 of this report; c. allocate grant awards above £50,000 from the Wraparound grant funding of £2.678m where set out in the Wraparound Delivery Plan and in accordance with section 4.5.2 of this report; and d. agree the strategy for the allocation of the capital Childcare Expansion Grant of £849,000 for Extended Entitlement and Wraparound Care provision prior to allocations being submitted for approval by the Finance Committee (as part of the Local Authority’s Capital Approvals Process) as set out in section 4.5.3 of this report.

-       Note the decisions at 3) above will only be exercised by the Strategic Director of Children’s Services pursuant to the Childcare Reforms Governance Board’s process as set out in section 5 of this report.

-       Note that the Local Authority Delivery Support grant of £102,000 is to be retained centrally by the Local Authority, in accordance with the grant terms, to cover administrative costs for the implementation of the Extended Entitlement Delivery Plan as set out in section 4.5.1 of this report.

-       Note that £294,000 (11%) of the Wraparound grant funding is to be retained centrally by the Local Authority, in accordance with the grant terms, to cover administrative costs for the implementation of the Wraparound Delivery Plan as set out in section 4.5.2 of this report.

-       Note that a further update paper on the Childcare Reforms will be presented at a future Committee.

Reasons for Decision

Due to the short timescale for the implementation of the Childcare Reforms programme it is proposed that the Local Authority proceeds to implement option 2 above. By agreeing the approach to deliver the Childcare Reforms, as set out in this report, this will enable the Local Authority to commence the implementation process whilst the Extended Entitlement Delivery Plan and the Wraparound Delivery Plan are being finalised, which will ensure timely compliance with the Government’s requirements. Further updates will be provided to the Committee in a future report.

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

Do nothing – this is not a viable option as the Local Authority would be in breach of its statutory duty to ensure that there is sufficient childcare for working parents/carers, or parents/carers who are studying or training for employment, for children aged 0 to 14, or up to 18 for children with special educational needs and disabilities. Doing nothing would mean that the Local Authority’s existing childcare provision will be insufficient to meet the demands of the first phase of the roll out, which comes into effect in April 2024 (parents/carers are able to apply for this from 2 January 2024) as well as the second phase which is to be implemented in September 2024.

Proceed to implement the Childcare Reforms – as set out in the Recommendations section of this report. This option allows the Local Authority to start the implementation process, meet its statutory duties and be compliant with the Government’s requirements.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Strategic Director of Children’s Services on the Corporate Parenting Strategy 2023-26. The report was outlined as follows:

Corporate Parenting is the term used in law to describe the collective responsibility to provide care for and support children in our care and our care leavers to ensure they have every opportunity to reach their full potential.

The Corporate Parenting Strategy 2023-26 demonstrates the Council’s commitment to ensuring that the life chances of every child and young person in its care are improved in line with their peers. We will act as strong advocates to ensure their needs are met in the best way possible, and to prioritise access to resources. We believe that every child and young person in Sheffield should have the best possible start in life and the opportunity to thrive. We want to ensure that care experie