The Childcare Act (2006) requires local authorities to carry out a Childcare Sufficiency Assessment (CSA). This process involves consulting a range of groups as to their childcare needs and comparing this to the available provision.

A full Childcare Sufficiency Assessment must be carried out once every three years with a lighter refresh annually. This report presents the key messages from the second full CSA carried out in York.

It should be noted that the childcare market is dynamic and changes can happen over a short period of time. This report presents a snapshot in time and as more data and information becomes available the picture of how well childcare matches families needs will develop.

Overall childcare in York reasonably matches the needs of local families. However the CSA exercise has highlighted some areas that could be further developed or warrant further investigation. This report focuses on the gaps in the childcare market and will inform the development of an action plan aimed at addressing these gaps.

The table below gives a quick traffic light summary of the childcare market in York.

	Geographical	Cost/Income	Specific Needs	Time/Flexibility	Age	Type
City wide	Amber	Amber	Green	Green	Green	Green
Group/Areas	Red	Amber	Amber	Amber	Amber	Amber

Traffic light definitions

RED         A gap exists which will prevent families from accessing childcare

AMBER   Childcare largely matches needs however a gap exists which will give families difficulties in accessing childcare

GREEN    Childcare largely matches families needs

There are a number of wards where there data suggests the childcare market is not fully meeting families needs.

• Acomb – Has generally has a low number of childcare places per child of population. However feedback from parents show a higher than average percentage say they do not use childcare as they choose not to and use family or friends. Full and part time vacancies for children under five is limited and many go out of the ward to access their free early years entitlement.
• Holgate – Has generally a low number of childcare places per child of population. The number of full time vacancies available is limited but there is not as much pressure on part time places. Where parents are not using childcare the main reason given is that childcare is not available at the times they need it.
• Micklegate – Has a slightly below average number of childcare places per child of population. When looking at childminder and school holiday places available the number of places per children is more significantly below average. The number of full and part time vacancies for under fives is also below the average for the city. A range of reasons is given by families for not accessing childcare with location being given as the most common reason.
• Bishopthorpe - Has generally a low number of childcare places per child of population but has a relatively healthy number of places with childminders. There is some pressure on early years entitlement places. Where families are unable to access childcare the main form they state as needing is a breakfast club.
• Heworth Without - Has generally has a low number of childcare places per child of population. Full and part time vacancies for children under five is limited. The number of childminder places is below the average. Where families are unable to access childcare the main form they state as needing is a pre-school playgroup.
• Hull Road - Has generally has a low number of childcare places per child of population. Part time vacancies for children under five is limited and many go out of the ward to access their free early years entitlement. The number of childminder places is below the average.
• Guildhall – The city centre ward comes up on a number of occasions as a pressure point. The number of places registered and vacancies available per child of population looks to be reasonably healthy. The pressure on places is due to the fact many people are wanting to make use of city centre provision don’t live within the Guildhall ward. The ward has no registered childminders. The ward tops the list for parents saying they would like to access childminders, day nurseries, nursery classes, before and after school clubs and holiday schemes.

As in the first childcare sufficiency assessment the affordability of childcare is an issue that is highlighted by many families.

• Although 78% of families feel childcare is good value for money only 54% of families believe it to be affordable. The household income brackets of £0-£15,000 and £35,000- £45,000 are most likely to say childcare is not affordable.
• Families with an annual household income of between £15,000 to £25,000 are least likely to use childcare.
• 90% of families say they know where to find information about childcare. However only 67% say they know where to find information about help paying for childcare.
• The biggest groups saying that childcare is not affordable are those working shifts (100%) and those looking for work (60%). However this presents as an issue across all family groups.
• The costs of childcare in York are all below the national average for childminders, day nurseries and out of school care according to a national survey by the Daycare Trust. The cost of out of school care is well below both the regional and national average (Nationally £45 per 15 hour week compared to £37 average in York). 

In the written survey 17% of parents with disabled children said they were unable to access childcare. Face to face work with CANDI suggested issues include:

• Some providers charging more for childcare for disabled children
• Some providers with a lack of training
• Continuity of staff meaning parent has to repeat information.
• Some providers expecting the parent remains with the child during childcare.

Largely childcare is available at times that families need it. However shift worker or out of hours workers continue to express a difficulty in accessing childcare.

For under fives childcare:

• Childminder levels have continued to drop and are now presenting barriers to families needing to access childcare.
• 2010 has seen a reduction in the number of pre-school playgroup places meaning some areas now face difficulty.

For five to 10 year olds:

• Levels of before or after school care is variable across schools.
• 17% of parents said they wanted to use before school care but couldn’t. However 46% of these did not specify which school they needed care linked to. The schools with the highest numbers saying they could not access a breakfast club were St Wilfrid’s primary and Scarcroft Primary.
• 15% of parents said they wanted to use before school care but couldn’t. However 31% of these did not specify which school they needed care linked to. The schools with the highest numbers saying they could not access an after school club were St Wilfrid’s primary, Scarcroft Primary and Hempland Primary.

For 11 – 17 year olds

“Childcare” in this age range takes a different form from provision aimed at younger children. Often far more activity and socially based. Childcare in this age range is also not registered with Oftsed. Given the broader scope of potential forms of childcare in this age range, and the difficulty in obtaining supply data, to judge sufficiency the key source is feedback from families and young people.

Feedback from families would suggest parents of 11 and 12 year olds do feel that a lack of childcare is a barrier to them accessing employment or training (54%). The main forms of childcare highlighted by these families is out of school care and holiday schemes.

It is difficult to pick out key types of childcare as presenting a gap without looking further in geographical areas of target groups. Looking more generally pre-school playgroups are the most commonly highlighted form of childcare families would like to access but can’t. However for certain areas and groups childminders, day nurseries, out of school care and holiday schemes are also highlighted.