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Childcare Act 2006
1.Overview of the Childcare Act 2006
2.What it means for children, young people and their families in Nottingham
3.What it means for the local authority and it’s partners
4.The Childcare Act 2006 implementation project
5.Key documents and linksOverview of the Childcare Act 2006 The new Childcare Act 2006 ( “the 2006 Act”) is a pioneering piece of legislation. It is the first ever act to be exclusively concerned with early years and childcare and early childhood services . A good start in life is essential if children are to fulfill their potential, and high quality early childhood services will result in better outcomes for young children, their families and society. The Childcare Act 2006 takes forward key commitments from the Ten Year Childcare Strategy, published in December 2004. The three key drivers of the 2006 Act are; • Reduce child poverty: to support parents to work, and hence the focus on the provision of good quality childcare for working parents. • Reduce inequalities between young children: Focusing on supporting children most at risk of poor outcomes because of deprivation and disadvantage & promoting social mobility. • Improve wellbeing for young children: Focus on 5 Every Child Matters Outcomes: Safety, Health, Economic Wellbeing, Enjoy and Achieve, Making a Positive Contribution. What it means for children, young people and their families in Nottingham By 2010 the vision is for parents, from the time they know are expecting a baby , to see a coherent pattern of child health, early years provision and family support services ahead of them. In practice this means; • A Sure Start Children’s Centre in every community providing or giving access to services for young children, designed around their needs, including health and employment support • Extended services through every Primary & Secondary school offering easy access to childcare 8-6, out of school activities, parenting support, access for the local community to school facilities and quick referral to specialist health and social care where needed • Affordable, accessible childcare available for all, with a duty on the local authority to secure sufficient childcare for parents who want to work or take up training • 15 hours of free, flexible early learning and care for all 3 and 4 year olds – extending the current entitlement from 12 ½ hours to 15hrs and introducing flexibility so that parents can take sessions over 3, 4, or 5 days per week • Information, Advice and Assistance to parents about services for children and young people aged 0 – 20yrs. The provision of a comprehensive information service designed around parent’s needs, easily accessible through a range of outlets, empowering them to make decisions and maximise access to services What it means for the local authority and its’ partners Measures in the 2006 Act formalise the important strategic role local authorities play through a set of new duties. These duties require authorities to undertake work in the following key areas, in addition to the areas of work described above ; Improve outcomes and reduce inequalities for young children – the local authority has an overarching duty to ensure that all young children have the best start in life. This will be achieved through a statutory partnership with the Primary Care Trust and Job Centre Plus focusing on integrating services and supporting parents to enable them to work or take up training. Secure Sufficient Childcare – ensuring that there is enough childcare in the Nottingham for parents and carers who want to work or take up training through supporting the maintained and private, voluntary and community early years sector. Undertake a Childcare Sufficiency Assessment – assess the supply of , and demand for, childcare and early years childhood services in Nottingham ensuring a strategic approach to the development and sustainability of new early childhood services. The assessment will also rely heavily on the views of parents and carers. Early Years Foundation Stage - a single framework of care, learning and play for all children aged 0 – 5 who access pre-school provision. Ensuring that young children are supported to fulfill their potential by raising the standards and quality of early years provision. Early Years regulation and inspection. The 2006 Act also reforms and simplifies early years regulation and inspection arrangements, providing for a new integrated education and care quality framework for pre-school children and also for the new Ofsted Childcare Register. The Childcare Act 2006 Implementation project Implementation of the 2006 Act is being undertaken Nottingham City Council’s Children’s Services. The implementation project is complex and cuts across other council services and partners. There are two main groups that are supporting the implementation of the 2006 Act; The Childcare Act steering group. Made up of senior officers from within the local authority and senior officers from partner agencies and organisations. The steering group is the key link between the strategic and operational arms of the implementation project ensuring rigorous governance . The group challenges the work of the implementation team, ensures that implementation reflects the priorities of the local authority and ensures a joined up approach to implementation. The Childcare Act implementation Team. Made up officers from within the local authority and partner agencies and organisations. This group is the key operational team responsible for programme management of the implementation of the 2006 Act. The team works on individual implementation plans, regulatory impact assessments, equality impact assessments and service delivery plans for each area of the 2006 Act. Click here to download a copy of the governance structure Key documents and links Click here to download a copy of the Childcare Act 2006 Click here to download a copy of the 10 Year Childcare Strategy Click here to download a copy of the Nottingham City Council’s Childcare Act 2006 presentation Click here to download a copy of the leaflet for parents and carers Click here to download a copy of the leaflet for practitioners |