The Department for Education and Skills has launched a consultation onhow councils will show they are meeting new legal responsibilities.
Under the Childcare Act, local authorities have a duty to improveoutcomes and reduce inequalities for under-fives.
Councils will be expected to work with health services and JobcentrePlus to achieve measurable improvements.
Local authorities have expressed strong concern about the concept ofnational targets set by central Government. However, the draftregulations, published last week, state: "The aim is, wherever possible,for targets to be negotiated and agreed locally.
"The purpose of the regulations is to ensure that local authorities arefully involved in the process and that targets are not imposed centrallywithout appropriate discussion and negotiation at a local level."
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
