Hampshire County Council Annual Childcare Sufficiency Update 2015/16 (April 2016)
Area: Fareham
Period: 1 April 2015 – 31 March 2016
Report by: Colin Skinner, Childcare Development and Business Officer (CDBO),
or Tel: 01329 286750
1. Area demographic profile
This information is provided by the Local Development Team (LDT) and indicates any known changes in the demographic profile in the area. Some of the data may not be statistical but what is known locally from networking with agencies and settings.
Number and ages of Children
The overall Fareham area child population aged 0 and 4 years old is projected to increase by 570 – 9.6% between 2014 and 2021.The high level trend projection to 2021 is shown below (Fig.1). Although the projections show a dip in 3yr olds in 2016 of 125 this cohort is anticipated to increase again thereafter until 2021.
Within Fareham there is projected to be a significant variation in ward areas, broadly reflected by the housing growth areas highlighted in the section below. Significant growth in the wards of Fareham North and Stubbington are anticipated, with most other ward areas projected to see a much slower increase or slight decrease in child numbers. See Appendix A for each individual ward break down.
Figure 1 Source: http://www.hants.gov.uk/factsandfigures/population-statistics/pop-estimates/small-area-pop-stats.htm
Families accessing benefits
Previous childcare sufficiency reports contained information about families accessing working tax credits and lone parents accessing benefits. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has changed the way this data is reported as follows.
The Universal Credit (UC), a single payment for people who are looking for work or are on a low income, was first piloted in 2013, and then rolled out in phases nationally to Jobcentre Plus offices (JCPs). Local JCPs in Hampshire started to go ‘live’ in April 2015 (Southampton), while all of Hampshire’s JCPs are scheduled to go ‘live’ by April 2016.
In light of the number of JCPs recording ‘live’ Universal Credit data, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) published the new experimental Claimant Counts on 11 November 2015. This data records eligible persons claiming Jobseeker's Allowance plus new or transferred claimants who are out counts based only on JSA are still collected and published, but referred to as the Jobseekers Allowance. Users need to be aware of these differences.
The ONS decided to replace the number of people claiming only Jobseeker's Allowance as the headline indicator for the number of people claiming benefits, principally for the reason of being unemployed, and use the new Claimant Count as the headline i.e. JSA + Universal Credit.
This change will impact on those areas where Universal Credit data has already gone ‘live’. Locally, this will be in Southampton and Eastleigh, where collection has taken place over a longer period. For other areas, there will be no immediate or noticeable difference between the ‘old’ JSA and the new claimant count. Eventually, all unemployed claimants will be transferred to the Universal Credit.
The new Claimant Count Dataset does not currently publish claimants by duration or sought occupation. The two tables in the Labour Market Bulletin that captures this data will continue to be published, but using the JSA only data i.e. it will not include any new Universal Credit (UC) claimants.
The number of lone parent families accessing benefits in Fareham is 340 (0.5%), slightly lower than the Hampshire average of (0.7%) and lower than the Great Britain figure of (1.1%). However this does not include those that may also be claiming Employment Support Allowance - ESA (this figure therefore does not include all lone parents).
Source: http://documents.hants.gov.uk/Economy/HampshireLMBMarch2016.pdf
Employment profiles and income
The quarter worklessness statistics reveal the main out of work figure at 3080 for Fareham (4.4%) with broadly 420 claiming Jobseekers Allowance (JSA), 2230 claiming ESA/IB and 340 claiming lone parent benefits.
Job creation and panned developments
There are no significant developments reported in the Hampshire Labour Market Bulletin for March 2016 which affect the Fareham area. The innovation centre at Daedalus is part of a £8.3m investment by Fareham Borough Council and is designed to provide a facility where SME businesses can prosper and grow.
2. Childcare places analysis
2.1 Childcare mix known for year ended 31 March 2016
This data is produced by the Local Development Team for Ofsted registered childcare from known changes in the childcare market that have occurred in the period.
Table 1: Changes to number of childcare places
Provider type / Quarter / Total number of providers gained or settings that have extended places / Total number of registered places gained (if known) / Total number of providers lost / Total number of registered spaces lost (if known) / Net growth or loss of places since the last quarter (- / + )Childminders / Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4 / 3
2
2 / 12
12
12 / 1
5
3 / 4
19
13 / 8
-7
-1
Home child carers / Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4 / 2 / 1
EYE Non-domestic premises – full day care / Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4 / 1 / 70 / 1 / 59 / -59
70
EYE Non-domestic premises – term-time care / Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4 / 1 / 30 / -30
Holiday play schemes / Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
After school clubs (inc Before school) clubs) / Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4 / 1
Total / 106 / 125 / -19
2.2 New childcare and early years provision
This is data that is known to the Local Development Team of childcare developments that have completed registration in the period. That data includes all types of provision including childminders.
Table 2: New Provision
Ward / Postcode / Age range / Registered places / Type of settingFDC/SC/OSC/CM/HC
Hill Head / PO14 / Home Childcarer
Portchester / PO16 / 0-14 / 6 / Childminder
Sarisbury / SO31 / 0-2 / Home Childcarer
Titchfield / PO14
PO14
SO31 / 0-7
0-7
0-14 / -
12
6 / After School Care
Childminder x 2
Childminder
Titchfield Common / PO14 / 0-7 / 6 / Childminder
Whiteley / PO15 / 0-7
0-5 / 6
70 / Childminder
Day Nursery
Total / 106
2.3 Proposed childcare and Early Years provision
This is data known to the Local Development Team of childcare provision that is proposed. It is likely that these providers will have made application to Ofsted.
Table 3: Proposed Provision
Ward / Postcode / Age range / Registered places / Type of settingFDC/SC/OSC/CM/HC
Comment
The Local Development Team is aware of one provider who is considering expansion to meet parent demand for full day care and pre-school places in the western wards of Fareham. More information will be available when Ofsted have published details of the proposed registrations.
2.4 Early Years and Childcare Provision closed
This data is provided by the Local Development Team of known closures of childcare operations in the period.
Table 4: Provision Closed
Ward / Postcode / Age range / Registered places / Type of settingFDC/SC/OSC/CM/HC
Fareham East / PO16
PO16 / 3-4
0-5 / 30
5 / Independent
Childminder
Fareham North / PO16 / 0-7 / 10 / Childminder x 2
Fareham North West / PO15 / 0-5 / 6 / Childminder
Hill Head / PO14 / 0-7 / 4 / Childminder
Park Gate / SO31 / Home Childcarer
Titchfield / PO15 / 59 / Full Day Care
Titchfield Common / PO14 / 0-5 / 6 / Childminder
Warsash / SO31
SO31 / 5-7
0-7 / 1
4 / Childminder
Childminder
Total / 125
Note: Where a number is not indicated the assumption is that the carer has not provided childcare for some time.
Comment
nb: Ofsted inspections are resulting in the removal from the Early Years Register of childminders who are currently not supporting children. Where childminders have no child under 5 years of age, they are moved to the Childcare Register (5 – 8 years). Indications are that many hold on to their early years registration due to the higher cost of the childcare register only option.
In overall terms the summary data for Fareham in terms of PVI places is as follows: (See Appendix B for a detailed breakdown).
Table 4a: Places summary – group settings
Places by ward – group settings / Weeks OpenWard / 33 weeks / 35 weeks / 38 weeks / 51 weeks
Fareham East / 60 / 116 / 90
Fareham North / 114
Fareham NW / 32 / 60
Fareham South / 46 / 45
Fareham West / 44 / 130
Hill Head / 46
Locks Heath / 177
Park Gate / 82 / 182
Portchester East / 136
Portchester West / 66
Sarisbury / 176 / 152
Stubbington / 26 / 172
Titchfield / 27 / 26
Titchfield Common / 121
Warsash / 52 / 147
Grand Total / 27 / 60 / 969 / 1269
3. Early Years Education – Free Entitlement
Hampshire County Council keeps a register of all approved childcare and early years provision that delivers the Government’s free early years education entitlement. Free early years education places are available in school nursery classes, state or private nursery schools, day nurseries, playgroups or pre-schools and with approved childminders. Free early years education is available in the funding period after a child’s third and fourth birthday. Some children, whose circumstances or family circumstances meet eligibility criteria, can also receive free early years education in the funding period after their second birthday.
3.1 Early Years Education for Two Year Olds
This is part of a national offer from the Department for Education (DfE) and has been developed to improve outcomes for identified two year olds who meet or their family’s income or circumstances meet, certain eligibility criteria. Further details can be found at http://www.hants.gov.uk/childrens-services/childcare/parents/cis/eye/2-year-old-offer-2.htm.
Table 5: Funded 2yr eligibility
Table 5 below show the number of children thought to meet the DWP eligibility criteria for a funded 2 yr place, together with take up against those numbers at ward level, mid period. The Local Development Team uses this data to identify those areas where funded 2 year places need to be developed.
Comment
Free entitlement for 2 year olds is expected to be provided through Ofsted Early Years registered provision that has an inspection outcome of ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’. The local authority will only fund 2 year olds in provision less than ‘good’ where continuity of care for children is required or there is insufficient choice in the market. Such providers are required to have appropriate local authority support in place.
There are 3 group settings taking funded 2 year olds with a Requires Improvement OFSTED outcome. Children accessing their funding at these settings do so through parent choice and due to places needed within these wards. The settings are fully engaged with the Local Authority in improving quality. There are no children who are accessing their 2 year old funding in a less than ‘Good’ childminding provision.
3.2 Take-up of the free Early Years Education entitlement by two, three and four year olds
Table 6: Early Years Education take-up by 2, 3 and 4 year olds as at spring 2016
Comment
The take up of funded 3 year old places has identified some areas taking over 100% of children, this is due to possible incorrect Small Area Population Forecast (SAPF) figures or that children from other wards are taking their provision up in a different ward to where they live.
3.3 General availability of places in Fareham District
Appendix B details the spread of place provision by ward and postcode and shows the number of weeks available for childcare as provided by the private voluntary and independent group providers.
Appendix C details the availability of Childminder places including those who deliver early years education (EYE) funding and 2 yr old funded places by ward.
The local development team are working with Prospects Services to deliver more childminder places in the Western Wards of Fareham. There is currently a shortage of EYE Childminder provision in Warsash, Whitely and Locksheath.
Appendix D shows the availability of Out of School care places by ward and type of provision. This sector is expected to become increasingly important in meeting parents’ needs for childcare as SfYC seeks to encourage collaboration between providers in meeting the forthcoming 30 hour childcare policy.
4 Quality of Ofsted Registered provision:
Development of high quality childcare provision is essential to good outcomes for children and the improvement of parental choice.
Table 7: Shows the split of childcare by ward and Ofsted Outcome for PVI group providers.
Table 8: Summary by inspection outcomes.
Comment
Free entitlement for 2 year olds is expected to be provided through Ofsted Early Years registered provision that has an inspection outcome of ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’. The local authority will only fund 2 year olds in provision less than ‘good’ where continuity of care for children is required or there is insufficient choice in the market. Such providers are required to have appropriate local authority support in place.
There are 3 group settings taking funded 2 year olds with a Requires Improvement OFSTED outcome. Children accessing their funding at these settings do so through parent choice and due to places needed within these wards. The settings are fully engaged with the Local Authority in improving quality. There are no children who are accessing their 2 year old funding in a less than ‘Good’ childminding provision.
The 1 ‘Excellent’ provision shown in Tables 7 and 8 above is an Independent school inspected by the Independent School’s Inspectorate rather than Ofsted
5 Development of provision for Special Educational Needs
SfYC’s Inclusion Team is committed to ensuring that all eligible children are able to attend an early years or childcare setting irrelevant of any disability or additional support need. Ideally, we would see this happening in the child’s local setting or the parents’ choice of setting, however, where a child’s needs cannot be met by this provider, we will work to support the identification of an appropriate alternative.