Council says it has a plan to combat poor childcare availability

WILTSHIRE Council has said that it has a county-wide plan in place to ensure there is a sufficient provision for childcare and that it is working with providers in Westbury to create new childcare places to meet the local demand.

The BBC’s Local Democracy Reporting Service recently said that Westbury was “an area of concern with regards to childcare”, and made reference to a report in October of last year by Wiltshire Council’s children’s select committee which showed a downward trend in childminding solutions for parents in Wiltshire, with 64 more childminders closing than opening since 2015.

The report said that the recruitment and retention crisis in the childcare sector is affecting the number of places available in Wiltshire. An occupancy level of 85% is considered a comfortable rate of occupancy for a community area, and Westbury is currently sitting “above 90%”.

Cllr Laura Mayes, Wiltshire Council cabinet member for children’s services said, “Wiltshire has adequate childcare provision to meet local demand in most places, but occupancy levels are high in some areas of the county. Westbury has a current occupancy above 90% for three and four-year-olds. Despite this, Wiltshire continues to sit above the national average in its number of children benefiting from early education entitlement.

“In line with last year’s Spring Budget announcement by the government, early years is a very high priority area for Wiltshire Council. We have received Department for Education funding to create new childcare places to meet the demand when the new entitlement for free childcare for children under three years comes into place and we are working with providers in Westbury to deliver this.

“We have a countywide action plan and are continuing to work with the early years and childcare sector, colleagues within the council, communities and others to ensure there is sufficient provision and promoting childcare as a credible career choice for young people, as well as those returning to work, or thinking of a career change.”

As part of the Spring Budget announcement in 2023, the government will expand the childcare offer scheme as follows:
• April 2024: Eligible two-year-olds will get 15 hours of free childcare per week
• September 2024: Eligible children between nine months and two years will get 15 hours
• September 2025: Eligible children between nine months and three years will get 30 hours

For more information and to check if you are eligible, visit https://shorturl.at/eryUV