Carol Fenlon, Head of Early Childhood Services introduced the report of the Director for Children, Families and Education, which provided an overview of Wirral’s Childcare market sufficiency for the period of April 2019 – March 2020, in addition to the response to Covid-19 including securing childcare places specifically for vulnerable and keyworker children.

It was reported that the Childcare Sufficiency Assessment was a statutory duty which provided analysis on whether there was sufficient childcare to meet the needs of families presently and in the future. The Wirral Childcare Sufficiency Assessment identified that there was a decreasing birth rate and that on average early years settings were 80% full with most settings having vacancies for all ages. Planning for future sustainability of childcare places after Covid-19 was a priority for Early Childhood Services, with business recovery online training being made available for providers.

The report further detailed the sufficiency of early years places during the pandemic. The Committee was advised that 216 of the 384 settings closed following the announcements of lockdown restrictions in March 2020, of which many were childminder services closing due to lack of demand or through providers having to shield following advice from Public Health England. It was further reported that were positive signs of recovery across 2,3- and 4-year-old offer following the commencement of the autumn 2020 term, but there were still fluctuations in take up of early years place due to increased working from home or furlough arrangements.

Members welcomed the work undertaken to support early years settings during the pandemic.

Resolved – That

1)  publication of the Childcare Sufficiency Assessment 19/20 be endorsed.

2)  Wirral’s Childcare Providers’ Covid-19 response in continuing to offer Early Years Childcare and Education through unprecedented times be noted.