Childcare sufficiency
Local authorities have a statutory duty under the Childcare Act 2006 to ensure there is sufficient childcare available to meet the needs of families in their area. This involves assessing local childcare requirements and making sure provision aligns with those needs.
Additionally, the Children and Families Act 2014 requires that elected members are regularly updated on childcare sufficiency to ensure ongoing oversight and accountability. Transparency is also essential, as local authorities must make information about childcare availability accessible to the public, helping parents and carers make informed choices about childcare options in their community.
Early years and childcare sufficiency report
View our childcare sufficiency report
Local authorities hold the most recent local district data, which provides valuable insights for childcare settings and professionals about the current landscape of the early years sector. This data supports informed decision-making and helps to accurately allocate resources such as the early years pupil premium and for Best Start funding, ensuring that support is targeted where it is most needed within the community.
Information is available on a wide range of key areas, including:
- Availability of childcare
- Funded places, such as Best Start
- Openings and closures of settings
- Quality standards
- Employment figures
- Birth and population statistics
- Health data
- Free school meal eligibility
- Key ward-level data
- Development and education indicators
- Economic wellbeing