Regulation 3 Preparation of a childcare assessment

(1)

A childcare assessment must be prepared according to the criteria specified in paragraphs (2) and (3).

(2)

The criteria are, in relation to each authority sub-area—

(a)

the number of free nursery provision places required by parents;

(b)

the number of free nursery provision places provided.

(3)

The criteria are, in relation to each authority sub-area, each age range of children and each type of childcare—

(a)

the number of places required by parents;

(b)

the number of places provided;

(c)

the number of places required by parents in respect of which the child care element of working tax credit is payable;

(d)

the number of places provided in respect of which the child care element of working tax credit is payable;

(e)

the times of day at which childcare is required by parents;

(f)

the times of day at which childcare is provided;

(g)

the range of session lengths provided;

(h)

the requirements for specialist care for children with special educational needs and disabled children;

(i)

the number of places provided by reference to type of special educational need or need for specialist care (in the case of disabled children);

(j)

the number of places provided but not being used; and

(k)

the range of charges payable in respect of childcare and parents’ ability to pay the charges.

(4)

The authority must make available for comment a draft childcare assessment.

(5)

In this regulation a “sub-area” of an authority is—

(a)

an electoral division or ward of the authority, or

(b)

such other appropriate geographical division into which the authority have notionally divided their area.