brentwood.gov.uk

Early Years and Childcare (EYCC) -

The consultation document makes no reference to the requirements for EYCC provision arising from the planned growth in the Plan period. ECC is responsible for meeting certain statutory responsibilities relating to the provision of EYCC services within BBC. This includes supporting EYCC providers with information, advice, guidance, training and a duty under the Childcare Act 2006 to ensure there is sufficient and accessible high quality early years and childcare provision. The Essex Early Years and Childcare Strategy 2015-2018 sets out ECC's strategic objectives and priorities relating to early years and childcare services across Essex.

An assessment of EYCC requirements will need to take place and those requirements will need to be included in appropriate policy and site allocations (both housing and employment) where growth generates need. Once ECC has received this information and completed an assessment, a realistic IDP for EYCC can be prepared and agreed. Discussions with ECC are therefore vitally important to ensure that this growth is planned, phased, properly funded and delivered in an efficient and coherent manner.

ECC also recommend that paragraphs 18a and 76 of the consultation document make specific reference to EYCC provision.

A high level assessment of the preferred housing site allocations detailed in the consultation document using the most up to date sufficiency data (summer 2017) has identified the need for the following: (see attached table)

Employment sites will be affected by the number of employees, and the amount of floorspace on each site. ECC therefore seeks further information in relation to proposed employee numbers and floorspace in order to provide comment in relation to the employment sites.

It is also important to note that the existing capacity has been considered by ward rather than settlement, and hence the available capacity by setting has not been translated into the number of dwellings that each settlement can accommodate. Until BBC provides ECC with a further breakdown as to exact numbers and locations, the figures could be subject to change.

It should also be noted that from September 2017 the Extended Funding Entitlement Offer (EFE) was introduced, which could also affect the calculations of the requirement figures.

BCC will need to provide ECC with all the relevant information in order that ECC can undertake a further assessment of the potential delivery and resource requirements for accommodating anticipated childcare requirements, to inform the pre submission Plan, and its supporting IDP.