Maintain ongoing Early Years and Childcare sector support to continue the development and sustainment of settings to retain 100% of existing provision. Continue existing umbrella support arrangements with a specific focus upon the sustainable development of high quality childcare provision. Support Voluntary managed providers to ensure sound governance arrangements and financial planning Encourage and support existing provision to develop their offer and broaden their customer base in order to meet gaps in service delivery and identify alternative more flexible forms of childcare provision. Encourage and support existing provision to work with staff to identify opportunities for them to complete formal qualifications at Level 3 and above levels, especially in the Out of School Care settings wherever possible. Annually with a review in Jan-Feb each year to 2022 to facilitate annual planning. All Childcare providers receive support on workforce development and sustainable development. All training providers have at least some staff who have attended training provision provided through the Early Years and Childcare Workforce development programme delivered via the training programme hosted at the ICC, Pentrebach. All voluntary managed providers have undergone the Business Assessment Tool and a business plan and financially planning in place All voluntary managed providers have appropriate Governance arrangements. Issue Proposed Response Timing Measures
ALN Provide staff training to enable existing and new providers to offer childcare places for children with disabilities. Encourage and support existing provision to develop their offer for children with disabilities. Annually with a review in each year to 2022 to identify where further developments and support might be needed. All Childcare providers receive support on working with children with disabilities and their parents/carers. All training providers have at least some staff who have attended training provision provided through the Early Years and Childcare Workforce development programme on supporting children with disabilities and their parents. Issue Proposed Response Timing Measures Recent loss of childminders and length of time others have worked for – 3 of existing cohort working for over 15 years and 6 10 -14 years . Seven childminders with 47 spaces deregistered in early 2017. Continue existing childminder recruitment campaign. Work with Employability programmes to identify potential childminders and wider recruits for sector. From April 2017. Recruit at least 2 childminders in 2017/18, with further 2 in 2018/19. Identify at least 5 beneficiaries via employment programmes suitable for work in Childcare sector in Merthyr.
Low profile and poorer understanding of nature of Welsh language childcare provision amongst some parent/carer groups. Work with Welsh Language providers and commissioned partners to identify additional marketing opportunities for Welsh Language opportunities. Utilise expertise of the Welsh Language Officer to share more detailed examples of benefits of Welsh Language provision direct with parents in Merthyr Tydfil. From April 2017 with further review in late 2017. Identify at 2 providers to work with to identify key components of a marketing approach to link into wider childcare marketing. Issue Proposed Response Timing Measures
Reduction in out of school provision supported by Communities First. Work with Communities First for early identification of provision and its capacity likely to close and timing of this. From April 2017. Details collated of closures and continuations identified. Plan drafted to address gaps arising. Lack of parent/carer understanding of tax credits options and availability. Identify further information for inclusion on the FIS website in liaison with Voluntary Action Merthyr Tydfil and possible easy read brochure From June 2017 with further review in late 2017. Content identified for website inclusion. Costed plan for brochure production for distribution to providers.
Challenge of completing SASS and its alignment with future FIS arrangements. Provide further updates and CPD for providers and encourage all Childcare providers to complete a SASS return. Work with FIS to identify options for direct link between new Capita system and SASS data to facilitate active use by local authority. April – June 2017. At least 2 SASS briefings held including options for supported completion as part of potential workshop approach. Formal liaison with FIS and Capita on incorporation of SASS data into FIS system.