To approve the childcare sufficiency report for 2016–2019.

The early years policy and strategy manager provided an overview of the provision of childcare places in the county for 0-5 year old children.

In response to questions from cabinet members the following points were noted:

·         There was not a statutory duty for settings to respond to surveys

·         The majority of childcare providers were city based; there was a generally good spread in the rural areas but risks around the availability of places in Ledbury, Ross on Wye and Bromyard existed, and encouragement would be given to providers in those risk areas to develop additional places.

Resolved that:

Cabinet approve the childcare sufficiency report for 2016-2019