Schools, early years and childcare

Section 11 of the Childcare Act 2006 (www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts2006/ukpga_20060021_en_1) placed a new duty on local authorities from April 2008 to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the provision of childcare is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents in their area to enable them to work or undertake education or training leading to work.

Medway Early Years and Childcare Service undertook its first Childcare Sufficiency Assessment to fulfil this duty. The assessment has mapped and matched the provision of childcare to the current and emerging demand for childcare across Medway.

The results from this assessment and the gaps in the market they reveal will serve as a baseline for future research that will be crucial in enhancing the childcare market in Medway. This document will be reviewed and updated annually every March and a full assessment will be carried out every three years, so the next full assessment will be in March 2011.

You can read the full report and a summary are available to download:

• Childcare Sufficiency Assessment - Executive Summary (pdf 122KB)
• Childcare Sufficiency Assessment - Full Report (pdf 3,831KB)

To use these files you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have this on your computer, please use our advice page.

For further information, clarification or comments on the report please use the contact detals below - the council would like to know your views.

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