The Department for Education and Skills is consulting on how councilswill meet a new legal duty to make sure there are enough local childcareservices. Under the Childcare Act, councils must secure sufficientchildcare for all working families with children aged up to 14, or 18 ifdisabled.
Local authorities and children's organisations back the duty but areconcerned about how it will work in practice.
James Hempsall, director of Hempsall Consultancies, which carries outchildcare assessments for local authorities, welcomed proposals toaccurately assess and analyse existing childcare services and whatparents want.
But he said there was a "glaring gap" when it came to working out futurechildcare needs. "This is a planning exercise and the crucial factorthat is missing from the guidance is anything about mapping trends,forecasting and anticipating future demand and need," he said.
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