Issue - meetings

The Childcare Act 2006 places a statutory duty on local authorities to assess the local childcare market and to secure sufficient childcare for working parents.  The level of childcare provision is only deemed to be sufficient if it meets the needs of the community in general and, in particular, those families on lower incomes and those with disabled children.

In September 2017, eligible working families of three and four year olds will be able to increase their universal offer of 570 hours to 1,140 hours of free early education (30 hours FEE).  It is anticipated that around 8,450 of Surrey children will be eligible for the additional hours.

This proposal is to seek agreement for the payment of Department for Education (DfE) 30 hours Capital Grant to support the development of additional 30 hour places to meet the demand for eligible working parents in four identified areas of Surrey.

It was agreed that the Cabinet Member for Education agrees the approval and deployment of £615,103 Department for Education (DfE) 30 hours capital grant to four projects as detailed in paragraph 24.