Childcare Sufficiency Assessment

From April 2008, the Children Act 2006 placed a duty on Local Authorities to prepare an assessment of the supply and demand for childcare within their area. Under the Act the Local Authority has a role in managing the childcare market and they will need to plan and facilitate the childcare market.

Under Section 11 of the Act the Local Authority has to undertake an assessment to determine what will be 'sufficient' to meet the needs of parents locally. In looking at the market the Local Authority has to consider a range of factors including quality, flexibility, accessibility, affordability etc. The assessment will enable authorities to identify gaps within the market and assist in the planning of the new places and future developments.

In particular the assessment will analyse the gaps between the demand and supply to take account of the following:-

• Geographical gaps - the location of childcare
• Income gaps - the affordability of childcare
• Specific Needs gap - the requirements for specialized care for disabled children and for those with special educational needs
• Time gaps - the times that childcare is available and its flexibility
• Age gaps - the age for whom care is available
• Type gaps - the sufficient types of childcare available.

A copy of the assessment can be found below. The assessment will be reviewed annually and a further full assessment undertaken in 2011.

•   Childcare Sufficiency Assessment (PDF 540KB)

•   Childcare Sufficiency Assessment Gap Analysis and Summary (PDF 238KB)

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