Early years consultations completed
The Council’s two consultations on the future of our early years and childcare services for children under five and their families have now ended.
The Cabinet has approved the first part of the proposals, relating mainly to early years and childcare provision in children’s centres. These will come into effect from September 2015.
Proposals relating to wider children’s centre services will be considered by Camden Council’s Cabinet at its meeting on 9 September.
We want every child in Camden to have the best start in life and we know that the first few years of a child’s life have a big impact on their future. That's why we consulted on a new model of early education and childcare in Camden – Camden Sure Start – to make sure we are focusing our limited resources on those children and families who will benefit most from our support.
Our children’s centres will continue to offer a range of services to all families in Camden with children under five years old. We will also continue to provide three and four year-olds with 25 hours a week of free early education and childcare in Council-run centres and schools.
The changes agreed by the Cabinet so far include:
- Increasing the number of free and subsidised early education and childcare places available to two year-olds from low income families. Places will no longer be available for other two year-olds
- Ending the provision of childcare places for children under two at children’s centres but helping parents to find alternatives
- Developing a more cost-effective nursery meals offer in children’s centres. The exact details have yet to be agreed but we are committed to ensuring meals continue to be healthy and of high quality
- Ending community nursery grants from March next year but providing transitional funding to help these community nurseries develop new delivery models.
The remaining proposals will be considered by Camden Council’s Cabinet at its meeting on 9 September.
Find out more:
- Visit camden.gov.uk/camdensurestart for more information and background documents.
- Contact the family information service for help and advice about early education and childcare.