Under the Education Act 2002, powers to extend the range of services schools may provide came into effect at the beginning of September. Governing bodies have the power to run community services such as health services, childcare or adult education if they so choose. Governing bodies wishing to exercise these powers are under a duty to consult with the LEA. In Wokingham, when the intended service is childcare, the point of contact in the LEA for consultation is the Childcare Development Team.
Context
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Education Act 2002
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Care Standards Act 2002
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National Childcare Strategy
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Wokingham Early Years Development and Childcare Strategic Plan
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Wokingham Education Development Plan
Wokingham Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership - EYDCP, and Wokingham Borough Council have agreed targets with the Department for Education and Skills - DfES - to increase the number of accessible, affordable, good quality childcare places for children in Wokingham Borough up to the age of 14 years - 16 years for young people who have special educational needs or are disabled. As a result of development work over recent years led by the EYDCP and Wokingham LEA's Childcare Development Team, the majority of primary schools are now served by After School Clubs. A few are also served by Before School Clubs - Breakfast Clubs - and Holiday Clubs. The majority of this provision is operated under independent voluntary management. Secondary schools have been slower to gain access to such facilities. However, the recent growth in facilities for primary pupils means that there is an increasing number of children entering secondary education who have enjoyed the benefits of access to Out of School childcare and whose parents may wish to have continuation of such services, albeit in a modified form for the older age group.
The new Act permits school provision of childcare as a fourth option in addition to management by voluntary committee, private business and Local Authority.
What is out of school childcare?
Out of School childcare refers to facilities for children and young people before school, after school and in the school holidays, which are not part of the school's education programme. The staff working with the children or young people usually have nationally recognised qualifications in Playwork. There is usually a charge for attending in the form of a fee per session. Out of School childcare and Out of School learning activities may be offered in an integrated format, but fees can only be charged for the childcare element. Out of School learning activities are usually run by teaching staff and no fees can be charged.
Childcare for children below school age
Day nursery facilities may be provided for the children of school staff and pupils or the wider community.
Principal requirements for all types of childcare to be offered
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Governing Bodies must demonstrate to the LEA their ability to fulfill legal requirements before operating childcare
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Childcare provision which could include children under the age of 8 years must be registered by OfSTED Early Years Directorate to ensure that it is equitable with that operated within the private and voluntary sectors
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Provision for all ages of children and young people must work towards achievement of the Investors in Wokingham Children award to demonstrate quality standards
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Finances concerned with childcare provision must be monitored and managed as a separate part of the school budget
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Governing bodies must be able to demonstrate that the provision will be financially viable without support from elsewhere in the school budget or the LEA
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Governing Bodies should make a commitment to continuity of the childcare provision and ensure that parents/carers have a minimum of six months notice of closure, through careful monitoring on a continuous basis
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Governing bodies should make evaluation of childcare provision an integral part of the school improvement plan
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Governing bodies should send representatives to the training provided by the Childcare Development Team
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Day to day management of childcare provision should not fall to the head teacher of the school. A suitably qualified person should be appointed to undertake this task
Support and resources
Schools considering setting up childcare provision or being approached by existing providers to take over established provision must seek support, guidance and resources from the Childcare Development Team - CDT.
The main contact will be the Childcare Development and Quality Officer for the area in which the school is located. This officer will involve colleagues in specialist areas as and when appropriate, such as the Registration and Inspection Advisor, Business and Finance Support Officer, and Recruitment and Training Co-ordinator.
A member of the CDT will attend a board meeting to advise on existing local services and provide information to help governors decide between the options of operating childcare or alternatively facilitating operation by an independent provider. If a decision is made to operate childcare, subject to the proposal complying with the Strategic Plan, the CDT will provide guidance, resources and training including as follows:
