Childcare Sufficiency Assessment (CSA)

PAG and its founders have undertaken full Childcare Sufficiency Assessments (CSAs) for over 30 Local Authorities in England and Wales. PAG's experience stretches back to the days of childcare audits in the early days of Sure Start and the Childcare Act 2006.

Market leaders in the delivery of full CSAs, PAG's expertise in assessing childcare markets and consulting with providers and parents has helped local authorities of all sizes understand and secure childcare sufficiency, including during the current unprecedented times. PAG was commissioned for 3 Welsh CSAs in 2021-2022, and your local authority could be the next to benefit from PAG's experience.

Childcare Sufficiency and Entitlements

The Government’s initiatives to make childcare more affordable have meant that local authorities have needed to invest a substantial amount of time in monitoring sufficiency across early years childcare. This required more sufficiency assessments to be delivered with a specific focus on the 30 hours childcare offer and its impact on the early education entitlement for two year olds. The COVID-19 pandemic put more strain on the early years sector than at any time since 2006, and planning for the aftermath of Coronavirus is the biggest challenge to have faced the sector in a generation.

Minding the Gap

A key outcome of our sufficiency projects is the production of an in-depth gap analysis, commonly to inform a sufficiency action plan.

Our gaps analysis focuses on geographical gaps within localised (including sub local-authority) childcare markets.

PAG has also delivered Childcare Sufficiency Assessments where a gaps analysis has been used to inform focused SEND sufficiency and targeted early years business support with providers.

If you would like to discuss how PAG can support your CSA, click the link here.

"PAG was commissioned by Hounslow to carry out a 30 Hours Sufficiency Assessment. PAG had a professional approach, listened carefully to our requirements, engaged extensively with our providers, gave regular updates on progress and were responsive to requests to further develop data as required. PAG's final report contributed to planning for the sufficiency of 30 hours places."

Angela Doidge-Nelson
Strategic Lead for Childcare Sufficiency
London Borough of Hounslow

Model Perfect

PAG recognises the benefits of, and encourages, sharing knowledge and reviewing models of practice from across the UK.

If you would like to share knowledge and best practice, network, and pick up tips, you are warmly invited to join the PAG curated Early Years Resource Group.

Click here to join the group.

PAG has conducted over

interviews with early years providers, parents, and other childcare professionals