Childcare Sufficiency Assessment
The Childcare Act 2006 places duties on English councils to improve outcomes for young children.
This means that we must:
- Reduce inequalities between children.
- Secure sufficient childcare to enable parents to work.
- Provide information to parents about childcare and a wide range of other services that may be of benefit to them.
The Childcare Act gave councils a key role in shaping the childcare market in their area. From April 2008, councils have had a duty to secure sufficient childcare for parents in their area.
Section 11 of the Childcare Act requires that we annually update the assessment in March of each year and to prepare a full assessment at intervals not exceeding three years. The next full Childcare Sufficiency Assessment is to be completed by March 2011.
