Purpose

There is a Government programme to ensure
that:
•  In
November 2023 the government announced grant funding for all local
authorities as part of the rollout of two programmes aimed at
increasing take-up and availability of childcare across England for
working families. The programmes aim create or extend wraparound
care for school aged children from 8am to 6pm, as well as
establishing funded early education for eligible children aged 9
months upwards.
•  From
April 2024 eligible working parents of 2 year olds were able to
access 15 hours of funded early education for their child. From
September 2024, eligible working parents of children aged 9 months
to 3 years old can access 15 hours’ childcare support (funded
places). From September 2025, eligible working parents of children
aged between 9 months and 5 years old will be entitled to 30 hours
of (funded) childcare support.
•  From
September 2024, there will be an increase in the number of
wraparound childcare places available across England.
To support these programmes, capital and
revenue grant funding has been provided to Local Authorities to
support the creation/expansion of these places.
The decision requested will be to accept
receipt of the grant funding and to approve the bidding process and
allocation of the funds for the current and any future bidding
rounds.

Content

Please see attached report.