Childcare Sufficiency in Sefton

The Childcare Act 2006 places a duty on the Local Authority to secure sufficient childcare places (so far as is reasonably practical) to enable parents to take up or remain in work, or to undertake education and training leading to work.

The Local Authority is required to produce an annual report clearly stating the sufficiency of childcare in the area.

By analyzing the supply of childcare available, and comparing it with information about demand from parents, potential gaps in childcare provision can be identified.  This is the first step towards developing a strategy for securing sufficient childcare places through working with local providers and tailoring services to the particular needs of children and families.

The 2024 Childcare Sufficiency Assessment concludes:

Across Sefton as a whole, there are vacant childcare places available, however they may not always be at the setting parents or carers would prefer as some settings have no places available. There are wards of particular concern as detailed in the report.

• There are risks in Sefton’s ability to ensure sufficient places to meet the estimated increase in demand for 30-hour places for children from 9 months old to 2 years as vacancies for children 0-2 places are limited.
• There are no sufficiency issues related to quality of childcare provision.

Sefton Council is continuing to work very closely with Schools and Private, Voluntary and Independent providers to meet the targeted demand associated with the free entitlements for Children from 9 months. If you are thinking of setting up a childcare business in Sefton please contact Kim Evans, Partnership and Project Coordinator kimberley.evans@sefton.gov.uk.

The most recent Childcare Sufficiency Report is available to download below. 

If you would like to discuss your proposals in more detail with our team please contact kimberley.evans@sefton.gov.uk. You can find out more about Early Years and Childcare in Sefton on our Early Years webpage.