“PAG’s experience of completing Childcare Sufficiency Assessments for local authorities was evident throughout the review. They managed to successfully engage with a wide range of childcare providers… We were very happy with their approach, which was professional and thorough, whilst regularly keeping us updated on progress.”
Ian Povey, Early Years Business Manager
Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead
The Task
To provide a full and comprehensive evaluation of the supply and demand of childcare provision across the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM) and fundamentally, review the extent to which parent’s needs, in autumn 2016, were being met. An integral part of the Childcare Sufficiency Assessment was to provide a comprehensive gaps analysis which can be used to inform future strategy.
Our Activities
PAG conducted desk-based research which determined localised demographics and socio-economic factors that could impact on sufficiency and quality.
We also consulted with
- Parents and carers
- 92 early years childcare providers
- 124 registered childminders
- 42 out of school childcare providers
…via a structured consultation which provided quantitative and qualitative evidence as to whether there was the correct supply, availability and quality of childcare within the local authority of RBWM aligned to demand.
We recognised the importance of flexibility in our approach to the consultation, which was needed to secure a robust data sample, and therefore used a mixed method of telephone interviews, face-to-face interviews, focus groups and online surveys.
The outcomes of our work
The number of childcare places accessible to parents in each of the Royal Borough’s twenty-three wards was identified and mapped, in relation to the current and projected relevant demographics with a particular focus on the growing population of 0-19 year olds at the time of autumn 2016.
As part of the review, specific focus was given to the fact that at the time of writing 8 local authorities were acting as early implementers of the 30 hour childcare offer. Therefore PAG presented analysis of the extent to which RBWM-based early years childcare providers and registered childminders believed that they would be willing and able to help deliver the forthcoming 30 hours childcare offer and the extent to which parents of 3-4 year olds believed that they would, hypothetically, be interested in accessing the 30 hours childcare offer, when it was fully rolled out across RBWM in 2017.
For more information on Childcare Sufficiency Assessments, contact david@premieradvisory.co.uk