Swindon Borough Council has a number of statutory duties with regard to childcare under the Childcare Act 2006. Swindon Sure Start Partnership is the department of Swindon Borough Council that leads on this area of work.

Some of the duties are about support, advice and guidance to childcare providers. More information for childcare providers or people interested in a career in childcare is available on the Swindon Sure Start Partnership website (www.earlyyearschildcare.org) There are three specific duties which are directed at parents

• The duty to provide information, advice and guidance to parents about the availability of childcare and family services. In Swindon this is delivered through the Family Information Service at Swindon Direct and also through Swindon Sure Start Partnership outreach services.
• The duty to secure the provision of high quality early education for all eligible children
• The duty to assess supply and demand in the local childcare market and ensure the provision of sufficient childcare to meet the needs of working parents and parents who are taking steps to return to the workforce. Swindon’s first childcare sufficiency assessment is available to download below:

The Childcare Sufficiency Assessment March 2008

The assessment is available as a series of downloadable PDF files:

Childcare Sufficiency Assessment March 2008 Cover

Childcare Sufficiency Assessment March 2008 Executive Summary

Childcare Sufficiency Assessment March 2008 Index Introduction Scope Glossary

Childcare Sufficiency Assessment March 2008 Agencies and Providers

Childcare Sufficiency Assessment March 2008 Childcare for Under 5s

Childcare Sufficiency Assessment March 2008 Childcare for Over Fives

Childcare Sufficiency Assessment March 2008 Childcare for priority and excluded groups

Childcare Sufficiency Assessment March 2008 Action Plan

Further Information/Contact

Please contact the Swindon Sure Start Partnership:

Tel: 01793 466491
E-mail: surestart@swindon.gov.uk