Childcare for Working Parents - Find a freedom of information request

According to the DfE’s Early education and childcare Statutory guidance for local authorities, in accordance to the Childcare Act 2006 and the Childcare Act 2016, LAs are required by legislation to secure sufficient childcare, so far as is “reasonably practicable, for working parents, or parents who are studying or training for employment, for children aged 0-14 (or up to 18 for disabled children)”.

As part of this they should also encourage providers to take a sustainable business approach to planning and signpost providers to resources which can support them.
Local Authorities are requested to report annually to elected council members on how they are meeting their duty to secure sufficient childcare. LA’s are also obliged to make this data available and accessible to parents.

1. Therefore, I would like to request your most recent evidence of this reporting, and where parents are able to access this.

1. The local authority reports annually to elected council members on how we are meeting the duty to secure sufficient childcare, and will make this report available and accessible to providers and parents by publishing this report on the website: https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/directory-record/62057/childcare-sufficiency-report.

Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) will continue to determine the appropriate level of detail required in the report, geographical division and date of publication.

Like all other local councils, LCC have a duty, as far as is reasonably practicable, to ensure there is sufficient availability of childcare for the children of working parents (aged 0-14 years, or up to 18 years for disabled children). The duty includes parents who are studying or training for employment.

Further to the childcare sufficiency report in 2017 and following the implementation of 30 hours childcare, the local authority has completed a survey to gain the views of parents and this feedback has been used to publish the local authority’s annual report for 2018/19.
A review of the childcare market is currently in development to inform a report that will be published in 2020