Section 11 of the Childcare Act 2006 requires local authorities to undertake a Childcare Sufficiency Assessment on a triennial basis.

Regulations under the Childcare Act detail those with whom the local authority must consult in producing the Childcare Sufficiency Assessment:

• Parents
• Children and young people
• Childcare providers
• Persons representing children, parents and childcare providers
• Local employers and their representatives
• Neighbouring local authorities
• Schools and further education colleges
• The Local Safeguarding Children Board
• Jobcentre Plus
• PCT
• Learning Skills Council

Cambridgeshire’s first Childcare Sufficiency Assessment involved consultation with:

• 1450 parents using extensive telephone surveys and a further 50 parents from key target groups
• 448 children and young people, plus a further 64 young people with learning disabilities
• 86% of all childcare providers in Cambridgeshire
• 15 employers
• Jobcentre Plus
• Nanny agencies
• Cambridgeshire Race and Equality Diversity Service
• 13 schools, including special schools
• National Childminding Association
• Pre-school Learning Alliance
• Operational staff from Early Years and Childcare Service and Infrastructure Service
• Learning and Skills Council
• Primary Care Trust
• Local Safeguarding Children Board

Comprehensive quantitative data has been drawn from Cambridgeshire County Council’s Research Group and from the iChIS database to back up the research data.

Information gained from this extensive research has been compiled into a report, which forms the basis of Cambridgeshire’s Childcare Sufficiency Assessment.
 
Cambridgeshire’s Childcare Sufficiency Assessment Summary is now available on the right hand side, under 'publications'. Printed copies of the Summary document, with locality inserts, are available in your local library, children’s centre or school. You can request a copy by contacting the telephone number shown on the right hand side.