Withdrawal of the subsidy from day care provision

Withdrawal of the subsidy from day care provision in Children's Centres and the creation of a targeted fund to support Calderdale's most vulnerable young families.

The Council’s Financial Challenge • The Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy indicates a savings requirement of: • 20134 – 4. 4 million • 20145 – 6. 2 million • 20156 – 14. 4 million We have since been notified of government approaches to council tax and reduction in the early Intervention Grant. . . we now estimate that by 201516 the savings target could be up to 18 million. By law the council will have to be clear on its plans before the end of March 2013. 1

Withdrawing the subsidy - Cabinet Report • Presented to members on 8 th October 2012 • Cabinet agreed to the commencement of a 90 day consultation period to withdraw the subsidy from daycare provision within Elland, Field Lane, New Road, Siddal, Todmorden and Wellholme Park Children's centres. 2

Criteria • 80% of users attending the day care provision live in a bottom 30% or below area of deprivation. • There is insufficient private, voluntary and independent sector childcare places for children aged 0 -4 years in the local reach area. 3

Data Analysis Children’s Centre Daycare Number of 0 -4 years in reach area Attendance by users in 30% (and below) areas of deprivation Total number of full time places Occupancy level (June 2012) Sufficiency in reach area 0 -2 years Ash Green 434 89% 83 80% Jubilee 577 88% 50 69% Kevin Pearce 288 79% 70 84% Innovations 450 71% 116 82% Creations 155 62% 41 88% Elland 261 58% 32 20% Siddal 238 46% 31 71% New Road 298 40% 39 41% Field Lane 247 35% 32 21% Todmorden 376 25% 45 66% Wellholme 177 11% 70 76% 3 -4 years

Private, Voluntary & Independent providers. • Nationally, the Government removed the requirement from the Core Purpose to offer day care for Sure Start Children's Centres in the most deprived areas, however the Local Authority has a statutory duty stated in the Children Act 2006 to ensure there is sufficient childcare and early education places. • Within the reach areas of the 6 identified Children's Centre daycares we have examples where we have a number of PVI providers that are ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ settings of which have sufficient or surplus alternative provision locally. 5

Possible timeline should the proposal be agreed. Action Oct 12 Stage 1: Cabinet – agreement to go to the consultation stage. 8 th Formal Consultation period of 90 days commences. Cabinet – decision to publish recommendations following consultation. Stage 2: Publication. Stage 3: Representation period of 6 weeks. Stage 4: Cabinet – decision to go ahead with proposal following the end of the representation period. Stage 5: Implementation. Formal process with staff re 1: 1 support. 1: 1 meetings with families re support with appropriate childcare. Withdrawal of subsidy. Nov 7 th Dec Jan 13 Feb 15 th March April May June July Aug

Cabinet Agreement If Cabinet agree to support the decision to withdraw the subsidy from day care within the identified Children's Centres; the following support will be offered: • Families will be given 1: 1 support to seek appropriate alternative childcare. • Staff will be given 1: 1 support to discuss their individual future vacancies & opportunities including re-deployment, VER, etc. . 7

Representations As part of the consultation process representations can be made to Michelle Attmere Email: xxxxxxx@xxxxx. xx 8

QUESTIONS 9