Childcare Sufficiency Assessment

Childcare Sufficiency Audit Document 2010-2011

Introduction

The Ten Year Strategy for Childcare "Choice for parents; the best start for children" sets out the Government's intention to create a sustainable framework for high quality, integrated early years and childcare services for all children and families.

This was enshrined in law in the Childcare Act 2006; this placed a duty on local authorities to conduct a childcare sufficiency assessment as a first step to securing sufficient childcare for parents and carers in Coventry, as far as reasonable practicable.

Definition of childcare

Childcare allows parents or carers to undertake education, work or other regular commitments.

Formal, regulated childcare is any care, early learning or other supervised activity, carried out by someone, with no parental responsibility for that child, at a registered setting. 

Unregulated / Informal childcare is carried out by a friend or relative for convenience purposes and without reward.