To consider any questions with notice from Members received in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rules No 219 and No. 219A.

A question had been received from Miss Waller:

Appendix 8 of the budget papers we received at Council this week noted that the proposed new national funding formula for schools would lead to a decrease in what we will be allowed to allocate to early years’ settings from £4.60 currently to £4.40 in 2017/18 and £4.25 in 2018/19.  We were also advised in the budget report that changes in funding will lead to a reduction in support we currently give to early years’ providers.

a)      Are other local authorities faced with a similar decrease to their early years’ providers?

b)      Do we expect local providers to cease operation as a result of this reduction?

c)      What will be the implication for RCC, local parents and employers, if demand for places exceeds supply?

d)      What support do we currently give early years’ providers that we will not be able to give in future, and what impact will this reduction have on the market?

e)      Is this issue of the future of early years’ provision sufficiently serious that it justifies further consideration by this Children’s Scrutiny Panel?

A response was received from Mr Wilby, Portfolio Holder for Lifelong Learning:

a)      All Local Authorities will have to implement the new EYNFF from April 2017. It is estimated that Early Years Settings in 75% of Local Authorities will be better off, receiving an increase in their current rate of funding from the Government, for 20% of Local Authorities funding will remain broadly the same as current levels and in 5% of Local Authorities, including Rutland, funding will be reduced.

b)      A reduction in funding may increase the risk of this.  The Local Authority will be holding a training day for all Early Years Providers on 23rd February to look at different business models to ensure Early Years Settings remain viable. Helping them to look at balancing - Government funded places and parental fee paying places to ensure future sustainability. We will also support Settings to look at different ways to increase and generate income such as; charging for meal packages, developing other saleable services and asking parents to supply Nappies and other expensive resources for their children while in the Setting.

c)      The Local Authority has a statutory duty to secure sufficient childcare places and are required, by legislation under the Childcare Act 2006, to secure sufficient childcare, so far as is reasonably practicable, for working parents, or parents who are studying or training for employment, for children aged 0-14 (or up to 18 for disabled children). The Childcare Sufficiently Assessment will continuously monitor the supply and demand for places, reporting regularly to Elected Members, producing an ‘Action plan’ to support the Local Authority to increase capacity if required.

d)      All Early Years Providers delivering the EYFS are currently entitled to an offer of ‘Core support’ from the Early Years Team at Rutland County Council (1.6 FTE Posts). This  includes: an Annual visit to each Early Years Setting, access to three EYFS Networks, an Early Years Conference, A Training day for ‘Lead Early Years Providers’ and a programme of Core Training at a reasonable cost delivered by the ‘Adult learning Service, In addition to e-mail and telephone support as appropriate. Support is also available for ‘Newly Qualified Teachers and Practitioners’ and support for the implementation of the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile and Moderation of the Profile. Settings Judged by Ofsted as ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ are able to access the package of core support. Settings with a ‘Requires improvement’ or ‘Inadequate’ inspection outcome will be able to access a package of tailored support to meet their individual needs - helping them to return to at least a ‘Good’ outcome.

The current programme of support would have to be reviewed for April 2018. 100% of Rutland’s Early Years Settings are judged to be ‘Good or Outstanding’ by Ofsted. If the level of support is reduced this could have a negative impact on the quality of provision.

Support for Rutland Childminders is delivered on behalf of Rutland County Council via the Rutland Childminding Agency. This service would also have to be reviewed.

e)      The Director for People will recommend to the Chair of Scrutiny that this issue requires further consideration through the Children’s Scrutiny Panel.

Miss Waller asked a supplementary question:

Section d) – what is the Early Year’s ‘core support’ entitlement, who decides what the entitlement should be and where does it come from?

Mrs Curtis, Head of Learning and Skills stated in response that the entitlement is decided upon by Central Government and that the Local Authority receives the funding for this ‘core support’ from Central Government. 

AGREED:

1.    That Mrs Curtis would NOTIFY Miss Waller what the current entitlement was for the Early Years’ ‘core support’.