UNUSED buildings which could be turned into council-controlled nurseries are being assessed after it was warned a ‘significant’ number of new childcare places need to be created in Barnsley in order to meet anticipated demand.
Ruling cabinet members are expected to discuss the council’s annual review of childcare places in the borough, paving the way for a raft of measures to be approved.
It comes ahead of national changes - which will come into effect in September - which allow eligible, working families claim up to 30 hours’ of term-time support for children aged from just nine months.
One controversial move identified is using ‘alternative providers’ to deliver care at the local authority’s Family Hub venues to ‘save taxpayers’ money’.
A cabinet report found the total number of early years providers in Barnsley has increased from 244 to 261 but take-up rates - which subsequently place more pressure on stretched providers - are 4.2 per cent above the national average.
It said: “We have a legal duty to make sure there are enough childcare places in the borough and we also want to support early learning as well as training and work opportunities for parents.
“To maintain our duty, a yearly review is carried out to understand the childcare picture locally.
“The assessment helps parents understand the types of childcare available, and the places on offer in Barnsley, so they can make the best decision for their family.
“It also supports childcare providers to understand the local childcare market and to help them make informed choices to better meet the childcare needs of families in Barnsley./
“As part of this transformative work, we are also currently reviewing our Family Hub nurseries offer.
“The plans seek to deliver an improved nursery provision with a greater range of hours to local families, while also saving council taxpayers’ money.
“This may include alternative providers who are able to provide an expanded childcare offer of at least 30 hours, which is something the current model is unable to provide.
“Our Family Hub venues will remain open to support children and families no matter the outcome of this review.
“We are prioritising resource to improve childcare provision in specific locations across the borough identified within the assessment, and are working proactively with new providers to identify suitable council-owned and commercial buildings that could be used for childcare and wraparound provision.
“The service will continue to work closely with the council’s property services and Enterprising Barnsley to support economic development and growth, and sustainability and maximise use of available unlet property for the purpose of childcare.”
The hubs lauded as a huge success by council bosses are based in Thurnscoe, Worsbrough Dale, Athersley North, Grimethorpe, Penistone and Wombwell and provide childcare and support for families in need.
Under the current model, the council taxpayer effectively subsidises the cost of childcare at these nurseries by more than £480,000.
To offer 30 hours of funded places, the council need additional investment and, due to the council’s ‘current financial position’, it has been deemed not viable at this time to invest funding to test this out.
Therefore, they ‘can neither expand the offer to meet the requirements nor continue to operate as we are’.
Coun Trevor Cave, cabinet spokesperson for children’s services, added: “Our ambition is to ensure that all children can access high-quality childcare.
“This is important not only for children to enable them to have a good start in life, but also for their parents, to have childcare which supports and is suitable for their working arrangements.
“We will continue to work with existing childcare providers in the borough to ensure they have the right support to continue providing high-quality services as well as look for opportunities to create new services.
“We would also encourage families to visit the ‘Childcare Choices’ website to find out more about the support they may be eligible for and make use of the offer.”
