With councils facing daunting targets for children's centres, there is a risk of creating too many places and existing providers being squeezed out, warned professionals from all sectors.
John Alwyine-Mosely, head of operations and development at the charity 4Children, said authorities without children's trusts were operating in "a strategic vacuum". "Local authorities are not doing sufficient audits to know what's out there," he said.
Alison Hitchins, head of early years and childcare at Worcestershire County Council, where the majority of childcare is in the non-maintained sector, said a thorough audit was vital. "We are not going to open childcare on school sites before we consider what's already there," she said.
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
