Working parents to be supported by council in Nottinghamshire

Childcare and Education Minister Sam Gyimah visits the Haxby Road Primary Academy in York, to announce the eight councils who will deliver 30 hours of free childcare for hard working parents of three- and four-year-olds from September 2016, a year ahead of schedule. Pictured in the forest schools class chatting to Bailey Brittain and Evie Langan.
2nd Febuary 2016.
Picture : Jonathan Gawthorpe — Childcare and Education Minister Sam Gyimah visits the Haxby Road Primary Academy in York, to announce the eight councils who will deliver 30 hours of free childcare for hard working parents of three- and four-year-olds from September 2016, a year ahead of schedule. Pictured in the forest schools class chatting to Bailey Brittain and Evie Langan. 2nd Febuary 2016. Picture : Jonathan Gawthorpe

Nottinghamshire County Council has been named as an ‘early innovator’ to help with the future provision of early years childcare in England.

It is one of 25 local authorities across the country chosen by the Government to look at innovative ways to implement the extended free childcare entitlement for working parents of three and four year olds.

These experiences will then be used to support the scheme where working parents get 20 hours a week free childcare across England - starting in 2017.

The ‘early innovators’ will work on specific issues such as flexibility, availability of places, supporting parents to work and how to make it easier for childcare providers to offer places for children with disabilities and special educational needs.

Councillor Liz Plant, vice-chairman of the children and young people’s committee, said: “We are committed to providing high quality, accessible childcare opportunities for families in the county and we are very proud to be named as an early innovator for this project.

“Our expertise working with families and organisations across early years education has been recognised and we can make a real difference with this work.”

The county council will specifically explore the childcare needs of today’s modern families and carers, as well as exploring how this need can be met by quality childcare provision.

This September, a pilot will take place in certain areas of the country delivering 30 hours of childcare a week to eligible three and four year olds, before the national roll-out next year.

Parents looking for childcare or and how to access free childcare entitlements, call 0300 500 8080 or visit www.nottshelpyourself.org.uk.

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