More term-time child care provision planned for West Berkshire

Term-time child care for primary school-aged children in West Berkshire has been given £450,000 funding from the Government.

The Government’s ambition is that, by 2026, all parents and carers of primary school- aged children who need it will be able to access term time childcare in their local area from 8am to 6pm.

Schools, parents and private providers have all been surveyed for their views.

This programme will only focus on primary school-aged children from reception to year 6, Monday to Friday during term time.

The Government expects local authorities to build on their existing duty to ensure that there is sufficient childcare in their local area and that the programme is school-centred, with provision delivered by a variety of childcare providers.

The current West Berkshire position is that most schools are currently running successful provisions on their school site that are self-sustaining.

Many of these are catering for children with SEN need.

The council strategy is to ensure that all schools and private providers, who do not meet the definition of wraparound care, expand their provision either by number of days or amount of time.

Where there is currently no support in SEN schools, the council will look to see the barriers to this and how to facilitate this and schools which have identified that they have increasing demand will see the council prioritise them for expansion alongside any school that currently does not offer any provision.

The council is looking to the potential expansion of 29 settings, creating 464 places.

So far this academic year, it has created 100 new spaces.

The issue is up for discussion at next week’s executive committee.