Hampshire County Council Sufficiency Update
Area: Test Valley
Period: October – December 2011
Report by: Sheila Sahota Childcare Development Co-ordinator or tel: 02380 650034
Executive summary
Area demographic profile
This information is provided by the Local Development Team and indicates any known changes in the demographic profile in the area. Some of the data may not be statistical but what is known locally from networking with agencies and settings.
Number and ages of children / An analysis of SAPF has verified the rise in numbers of 0-5 year olds in particular wards in Test Valley. According to the Spatial Strategy and research paper 2011, the Test Valley population is forecast to increase by 48% between 2010 and 2017.Commuter data / No major differences in outward and inward commuters in Test Valley area since the last CSA was undertaken.
Lone parents
families accessing Working Tax Credit / As previous quarterly monitoring
Employment profiles and income / Test Valley saw an increase in employment benefit count (JSA) IN November 2011. The Andover wards are also recognised as having a higher rate of benefit claimants than the rest of Test Valley. Taken from Hampshire Labour Market Bulletin December 2011.
Childcare places analysis
This data is produced by the Local Development Team from known changes in the childcare market that have occurred in the period.
Childcare places analysis (balance sheet)
This data is produced by the Local Development Team from known changes in the childcare market that have occurred in the period. Please also see information in the data set tables below which give the detail.
Provider type / Total number of providers gained / Total number of registered places gained (if known) / Total number of providers lost / Total number of registered spaces lost (if known) / Net growth or loss of places since the last quarter (- / + )Childminders / 8 / 35 / 5 / 24 / +11
Home childcarers / 1 / Not known / 3 / Not known / Not known
Day Nursery / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Pre-school / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Holiday Playscheme / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
ASC (may inc BC) / 1 / 50 / 0 / 0 / 50
Availability of places
The demand for childcare places is being addressed from analysis of the Alamein and St Marys Wards. The Childcare Development Coordinator is working with the Local Development Team to stimulate the market particularly in these wards. The impact on places will be helped with three new potential providers in this area.
Through a report from Test Valley Borough Council, it has been identified that the Augusta Park housing estate in the East Anton area has increased from 420 to 545 new occupations to date. The new school on this site opened in January 2012 and the CDC is working with the school to look at early years provision.
Data sets
New provision
This is data that is known to the Local Development Team of childcare developments that have completed registration in the period. That data is to include all types of provision including childminders.
Ward / Postcode / Age range / Registered places / Type of settingDN/PS/Hol Playscheme/
ASC/CM/Home childcarers
Alamein / SP11 / 0-7 / 50 / ASC
Alamein / SP11 / 0-7 / 4 / CM
Alamein / SP10 / 0-7 / 3 / CM
Alamein / SP10 / 0-7 / 4 / CM
Blackwater / SO51 / 0-7 / 4 / CM
Cupernham / SO51 / 0-7 / 6 / CM
Millway / SP10 / 0-7 / 5 / CM
Millway / SP11 / Home Childcarer
Millway / SP10 / 0-7 / 4 / CM
Winton / SP10 / 0-7 / 5 / CM
TOTAL / 85 / 1 O of S 1 HC 8CM
Under threes new provision
This is based on the places known that have been developed for under threes in the period. The places information will have been extracted from the above table.
Ward / Postcode / Registered baby places (0-2) / CommentComment:
The new provision highlighted may include places for 0-2 year olds but the exact information is not known.
The 2 year old pilot is being extended in Hampshire and will impact on current 3 and 4 year old places in some areas. A strategy is being devised to address this need and monitor the childcare gaps when this pilot comes on board.
Proposed provision
This data that is known to the Local Development Team of proposed childcare provision that is proposed to be developed. It is likely that these provisions have made application to Ofsted.
Ward / Postcode / Age range / Registered places / Type of settingDN/PS/Hol Playscheme/
ASC/CM/Home childcarers
Alamein / SP11 / 1-7 / 3 / CM
Anna / SP11 / 0-7 / 1 / CM
Broughton and Stockbridge / SO20 / Home Childcarer
Chilworth, Nursling and Rownhams / SO16 / 0-7 / 3 / CM
Harroway / SP10 / 0-7 / 3 / CM
Millway / SP10 / Home Childcarer
Penton Bellinger / SP11 / 0-7 / 3 / CM
Alamein / SP11 / 2-5 / 26 / PS
St Marys / SP10 / 0-5 / 64 / DN
St Marys / SP10 / 2-5 / 26 / PS
TOTAL / 129 / 5CM 2HC 2PS 1DN
Comment:
Through work with local providers, the Childcare Development Coordinator has identified 2 Preschools and a Day Nursery in central Andover that are proposed to open in due course. These proposed provisions should ensure that there are more childcare places available to meet the demand.
The data highlights that all the new provision will potentially increase childcare places significantly to an additional 85 places for 0-7 year olds in Test Valley.
Provision under threat of closure
This data is provided by the Local Development Team to indicate areas where childcare operations that are known to have difficulty in the childcare market.
Ward / Postcode / Age range / Registered places / Type of settingDN/PS/Hol Playscheme/
ASC/CM/Home childcarers
North Baddesley / SO16 / 2-5 / 26 / PS
Bourne Valley / SP11 / 2-5 / 30 / PS
Kings Somborne and Michelmarsh / SO20 / 2-5 / 26 / PS
Total / 82 / 3PS
Comment:
There are three settings identified as under threat of closure – CDC and LDT working closely with all of these settings to offer support and advise regarding sustainability.
Provision closed
This data provided by Local Development Team of known closures of childcare operations in the period.
Ward / Postcode / Age range / Registered places / Type of settingDN/PS/Hol Playscheme/
ASC/CM/Home childcarers
Anna / SP11 / Home Childcarer
Bourne Valley / SP11 / Home Childcarer
Chilworth, Nursling and Rownhams / SO16 / 0-7 / 5 / CM
Harroway / SP10 / 0-7 / 4 / CM
Harroway / SP10 / 0-7 / 5 / CM
Kings Somborne and Michelmersh / SO 20 / 0-7 / 5 / CM
Over Wallop / SO20 / 0-7 / 5 / CM
Tadburn / SO51 / Home Childcarer
Total - Home childcarer registered places not identified / 24 / 3HC 5CM
Comment:
After analysis of the data available the opening balance of childcare places against the closures highlights a gain of childcare places this quarter. There is a gain of 85 places against a loss of 24 creating a total of 61 places. Within the Childminding sector there is a gain of 11 childcare places and a new Out of school provision has created 50 places.
The proposed provision has a positive impact on childcare places in Test Valley, if all of these are registered with Ofsted. These places balanced against a potential loss would still create 47 childcare places.
The Local Development team are working with potential closures to ensure that support is given regarding marketing and sustainability to ensure that these settings remain open.
Development of provision for Special Needs
Early Years Education
The Extended Flexible Entitlement of 15 hours free Early Years Education (EYE) became mandatory in Hampshire from September 2010. Currently providers are being informed of how they can provide an alternative delivery where the offer can be "stretched" across the full year rather than limited to 38 weeks. Providers are also being informed of how they can become approved 2 year old providers.
Ward / Postcode / Age range / Registered places / Type of settingDN/PS/Hol Playscheme/
ASC/CM/Home childcarers
Total
There are currently 37 children being supported from the Test Valley Inclusion team in this reporting period. There are also 22 children in total being supported from both the Acorns Outreach programme and the Thomas Outreach Programme. There is a beacon setting in the Romsey Extra ward and Hampshire County Council are continuing to support 12 SEN places at Acorns Children’s Centre. The information required for this section of the Quarterly report is being evaluated with Strategic Managers at Services for Young Children. More detail will be available in the next quarterly monitoring report.
Development of Childminder Networks
The NCMA reported a total number of 154 Childminders graded in the Test Valley area with 101 of these graded at above “Satisfactory” Ofsted rating. NCMA have identified priority growth areas with focused work on particular wards , working alongside the CDC and the Childcare Sufficiency action plan.
There have been no significant changes since the previous quarter with 6 childminders attending briefings and 3 of these commencing their pre- registration. There are still a total of 34 approved Childminders who are able to offer Early Years Education (EYE) Funding, with an additional 3 Childminders working towards offering EYE funding. As reported previously, there are 26 Space Childminders who are able to support children with additional needs.
The Childcare Development Coordinator is also continuing to work with NCMA to identify gaps in rural areas in Test Valley to address childcare needs.
Development of extended schools activities and out of school/holiday provision
There are no updates on developments in this area and as there is no longer a Childcare Development Worker in post , there has been little contact with Out of School provision in this Quarter.
Parental demand
The Cfit team have reported a very quiet period with only 3 referrals for the Test Valley area during this time.
Grant funding
No grants have been awarded to group provision in this reporting period. The Childcare Development Coordinator met with the Business Support Officer to look at individual settings and new developments that may be eligible for funding. The LDT have been working with the Business Support Officer to identify and support settings who are eligible for the Improving Outcomes for Children Grant.
Ward / Postcode / Type of grant / Registered places / Type of settingFDC/SC/OSC/CM
Conclusion
After analysis of the data available, the opening balance of childcare places against the closures highlights a gain of childcare places this quarter. There is a gain of 85 places against a loss of 24 creating a total of 61 places. Within the Childminding sector there is a gain of 11 childcare places and a new Out of school provision has created 50 places.
Through work with local providers, the Childcare Development Coordinator has identified 2 Preschools and a Day Nursery in central Andover. These proposed provisions should ensure that there are more childcare places available to meet the demand. CDC has identified that occupied new houses in East Anton ward have risen from previous quarter from 420 to 545. Working with Test Valley Borough Council planning department, LDT need to be aware that as well as the East Anton development, there are 1200 houses bring built in Picket Twenty and the Cupernham ward is predicted to have 800 houses.
The proposed provision highlighted in the report will also have a positive impact on childcare places in Test Valley, if all of these are registered with Ofsted. These places balanced against a potential loss would still create 47 childcare places.
The Local Development team are working with potential closures to ensure that support is given regarding marketing and sustainability to ensure that these settings remain open
The data highlights that all the new provision will potentially increase childcare places significantly to an additional 85 places for 0-7 year olds in Test Valley.
The 2 year old pilot is being extended in Hampshire and will impact on current 3 and 4 year old places in some areas. A strategy is being devised to address this need and monitor the childcare gaps when this pilot comes on board.
The Childcare Development Coordinator has been actively developing childcare places in the Alamein ward. There is current work being undertaken with a new School at the Augusta Park housing development site to secure early years provision and two other childcare providers are also looking to develop new provision in Andover. These three developments should address the need for childcare places and enable all Parents to access their full entitlement in the Alamien and St Marys ward.
Lastly further meetings have been planned with the Planning department of Test Valley Borough Council on relocating the new provision from the school site to the new community centre, as well as housing a new childcare development on the Walworth Industrial Estate. The latter is to address potential childcare demands of new housing on the Picket Twenty / Picket Piece site.