65% of early years childcare places in England are provided by private, voluntary, and independent group-based providers in a market-based system. The key measure of market health monitored by the department is whether the supply of available places is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents and children. This is monitored rather than whether changes occur in the number and type of providers, which is typically a feature of a healthy, competitive market.<\/p>
The majority of eligible two, three, and four-year-olds have continued to access free childcare despite the challenges faced throughout the COVID-19 outbreak. Local authorities are not reporting any substantial sufficiency or place supply issues that they are unable to manage locally. The department has not seen a substantial number of parents saying that they cannot secure a childcare place, either this term or since early years environments re-opened fully on 1 June 2020.<\/p>
97% of early years childcare providers are rated good or outstanding by Ofsted.<\/p>
The department continues to evaluate the sufficiency and quality of childcare provision. It also endeavours to help local authorities, parents, and early years providers to ensure the sustainability of the sector.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4703", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Barran"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Barran"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-03-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-03-07T15:23:19.863Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2022-02-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Nurseries"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of private for-profit groups acquiring nurseries in England on (1) the stability of the nursery sector, and (2) the quality of provision.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4719", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle"} ], "uin" : "HL6220"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1156593", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1156593/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We want every child to have the best start in life, which is why we are spending around £3.5 billion on early education entitlements this year and plan to spend over £3.6 billion on these offers next year.<\/p>
We are aware of the Information Commissioner Office\u2019s decision and are considering our response.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4689", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Agnew of Oulton"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-11-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-11-04T17:48:45.32Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-10-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Nurseries"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government when the freedom of information request which details how nursery rates are calculated will be published by the Department of Education.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1796", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Taylor of Warwick"} ], "uin" : "HL473"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1111173", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1111173/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The government is committed to ensuring all parents who are eligible for the 30 hours free childcare entitlement are able to take up a place that suits their childcare needs.<\/p>
Data from the National Statistics release \u2018Education Provision for Children Under 5 Years of Age in England (January 2018)\u2019 suggests around 3 out of 4 eligible children have taken up some extended hours, however it is not possible to generate an equivalent figure at local authority level due to the relatively small population that we are estimating within sub-national geographies. As at 31 January 2019, 5,728 30 hours eligibility codes had been issued in West Sussex for the Spring term, 5,144 of these had been validated and as at 28 March 2019 5, 230 children were taking up a place in the West Sussex.<\/p>
We plan to spend around £3.5 billion on our early education entitlements this year alone \u2013 more than any other government. Our funding rates for the early education entitlements were based on our Review of Childcare Costs, described as \u201cthorough and wide ranging\u201d by the National Audit Office. We recognise the need to keep our evidence base on all aspects of early years sector costs up to date and we continue to monitor the provider market closely through a range of regular and one off research projects. That included the 2018 Early Years Provider Costs report which looked at a representative sample of providers, both in terms of provider type and geography, and gives an insight into various aspects of the provider market.<\/p>
Data published by Ofsted in November 2018 shows that the number of childcare places available has remained broadly stable since 2012. Since the rollout of 30 hours commenced in September 2017, the sector has risen to the challenge with more than 340,000 3 and 4 year old children benefitting from a place and we receive contact regularly from the sector on this and associated topics. We are now in the second year of national delivery and an estimated 325,000 children were in a 30 hours place in the spring term 2019 \u2013 this is an increase on the spring term 2018 and 92% of the codes were issued. Although childcare providers do not have to offer the free 30 hours, our 2018 Providers Survey shows that the majority of providers in England with 3 to 4 year olds are offering and delivering 30 hours.<\/p>
The data relating to the number of children receiving 30 hours in England is published within tables 5LA and 7LA in the \u2018Education Provision for Children under 5 Years of Age (January 2018)\u2019 statistical publication, available at:<\/p>
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/education-provision-children-under-5-years-of-age-january-2018<\/a>.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4113", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Stratford-on-Avon"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Nadhim Zahawi"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-04-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "243302"}
, {"_value" : "243303"}
, {"_value" : "243305"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-04-16T11:20:56.317Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-04-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Nurseries"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many independent nursery providers have contacted him to raise concerns about the viability of the funded 30 hour childcare entitlement on their nurseries.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/114", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Tim Loughton"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Worthing and Shoreham"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Tim Loughton"}
], "uin" : "243304"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/997094", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/997094/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Local authorities have a duty to secure sufficient childcare for families in their local areas. The department will continue to support all local authorities to deliver the government\u2019s childcare offers and ensure sufficient places, through direct support from departmental officials and our delivery partners. In September 2018, we also announced a year extension to the Childcare Works contract, which will see continued support being provided to local authorities and childcare providers in helping to deliver the government entitlements.<\/p> <\/p> The department is committed to ensuring all parents have access to high-quality affordable childcare. We recognise that providers and families living and operating in rural communities are faced with particular barriers to delivering and accessing childcare. That is why under the new early years national funding formula introduced in 2017, local authorities can use a rurality or sparsity supplement in their local funding formulae.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4689", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Agnew of Oulton"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-12T14:45:22.407Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-10-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Nurseries"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures they are putting in place to ensure sufficient supply of nursery places for families living in rural and coastal areas.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4238", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Storey"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Storey"}
], "uin" : "HL11098"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/678567", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/678567/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " I recently met Ofsted\u2019s Deputy Director for Early Years to discuss a range of issues on the regulation of childcare, including inspection arrangements and the quality standards of childcare providers. Departmental officials have regular business meetings with the Ofsted early years team and brief me on all developments as appropriate.<\/p> <\/p> Departmental Ministers discussed and agreed the new system of inspections with Ofsted prior to Ofsted launching the Common Inspection Framework in September 2015. The framework covers the arrangements for both scheduled inspections and unscheduled inspections based on an assessment of risk. The framework and inspection guidance can be viewed on Ofsted\u2019s website from the following link:<\/p> https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/common-inspection-framework-education-skills-and-early-years-from-september-2015<\/a><\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4008", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Gosport"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Caroline Dinenage"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-01-31", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-01-31T17:42:48.71Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-01-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Nurseries"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with Ofsted on (a) recent closures of nurseries due to safety concerns and (b) the effectiveness of (i) pre-scheduled and unscheduled site inspections.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1466", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South West Wiltshire"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dr Andrew Murrison"}
], "uin" : "61731"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/671712", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/671712/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Supplementary funding for maintained nursery schools, worth £55m a year, will be provided to local authorities at least until the end of this Parliament. This will enable them to maintain the current levels of funding for these schools, which play an important role in the social mobility of the children and families that they serve.<\/p> <\/p> Indicative Early Years National Funding Formula allocations for local authorities for 2017-18 can be found at:<\/p>