Content

12.
 
12.1
 
 
 
 
 
 
12.2
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
12.3

 
12.3.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
12.4

 
12.4.1
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
12.4.2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
13.4
 
13.4.1
 
 
 

 

THE
CHILDCARE REFORMS (SPRING BUDGET 2023)
 
The Committee received a report
of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services which
provided Members with an overview of the Childcare Reforms
announced in the Spring Budget 2023, sought approval for the Local
Authority’s next steps in delivering the requirements of the
Childcare Reforms and sought delegations for the agreement to
proceed to develop delivery plans in accordance with the Department
for Education guidance and implement these.  
 
RESOLVED
UNANIMOUSLY: That the
Education, Children and Families Policy Committee:
 
-      
Noted the contents of the report regarding childcare
provision and the Childcare Reforms announced in the Spring Budget
2023
-      
Approved the Council proceeding to develop
the Extended Entitlement Delivery Plan and the Wraparound
Delivery Plan as set out in the report
-      
To the extent that they require decisions not covered by existing
officer delegations, delegate authority to the Strategic Director
of Children’s Services to: a. agree and implement the
Extended Entitlement Delivery Plan as set out in sections 2.4 and 4
of this report; b. agree and implement the Wraparound Delivery Plan
(subject to Department for Education’s approval), as set out
in sections 3.4 and 4 of this report; c. allocate grant awards
above £50,000 from the Wraparound grant funding of
£2.678m where set out in the Wraparound Delivery Plan and in
accordance with section 4.5.2 of this report; and d. agree the
strategy for the allocation of the capital Childcare Expansion
Grant of £849,000 for Extended Entitlement and Wraparound
Care provision prior to allocations being submitted for approval by
the Finance Committee (as part of the Local Authority’s
Capital Approvals Process) as set out in section 4.5.3 of this
report.
-      
Note the decisions at 3) above will only be exercised by the
Strategic Director of Children’s Services pursuant to the
Childcare Reforms Governance Board’s process as set out in
section 5 of this report.
-      
Note that the Local Authority Delivery Support grant of
£102,000 is to be retained centrally by the Local Authority,
in accordance with the grant terms, to cover administrative costs
for the implementation of the Extended Entitlement Delivery Plan as
set out in section 4.5.1 of this report.
-      
Note that £294,000 (11%) of the Wraparound grant funding is
to be retained centrally by the Local Authority, in accordance with
the grant terms, to cover administrative costs for the
implementation of the Wraparound Delivery Plan as set out in
section 4.5.2 of this report.
-      
Note that a further update paper on the Childcare Reforms will be
presented at a future Committee.
 
Reasons for Decision
 
Due to the short timescale for the
implementation of the Childcare Reforms programme it is proposed
that the Local Authority proceeds to implement option 2 above. By
agreeing the approach to deliver the Childcare Reforms, as set out
in this report, this will enable the Local Authority to commence
the implementation process whilst the Extended Entitlement Delivery
Plan and the Wraparound Delivery Plan are being finalised, which
will ensure timely compliance with the Government’s
requirements. Further updates will be provided to the Committee in
a future report.
 
Alternatives Considered and Rejected
 
Do nothing – this is not a viable option
as the Local Authority would be in breach of its statutory duty to
ensure that there is sufficient childcare for working
parents/carers, or parents/carers who are studying or training for
employment, for children aged 0 to 14, or up to 18 for children
with special educational needs and disabilities. Doing nothing
would mean that the Local Authority’s existing childcare
provision will be insufficient to meet the demands of the first
phase of the roll out, which comes into effect in April 2024
(parents/carers are able to apply for this from 2 January 2024) as
well as the second phase which is to be implemented in September
2024.
 
Proceed to implement the Childcare Reforms
– as set out in the Recommendations section of this report.
This option allows the Local Authority to start the implementation
process, meet its statutory duties and be compliant with the
Government’s requirements.
 
 
The Committee received a report
of the Director of Strategic Director of Children’s Services
on the Corporate Parenting Strategy 2023-26. The report was
outlined as follows:
 
Corporate Parenting is the term used in law to
describe the collective responsibility to provide care for and
support children in our care and our care leavers to ensure they
have every opportunity to reach their full potential.
 
The Corporate Parenting Strategy 2023-26
demonstrates the Council’s commitment to ensuring that the
life chances of every child and young person in its care are
improved in line with their peers. We will act as strong advocates
to ensure their needs are met in the best way possible, and to
prioritise access to resources. We believe that every child and
young person in Sheffield should have the best possible start in
life and the opportunity to thrive. We want to ensure that care
experie