North Tyneside childcare sufficiency statement

Supply

Overall, the borough has maintained a diverse and comprehensive childcare offer, with the quality of provision high.  The number of providers is stable, with a decline in early years registered providers and an increase in non-early years childcare providers.  North Tyneside has seen a continued decline in childminder numbers, which is consistent with the national context. The number of childcare providers on non-domestic settings has increased, with increased numbers of full daycare providers, out of school daycare and sessional daycare providers. North Tyneside has seen a small reduction in childcare places between 2023 and 2024 but retains a good geographical distribution of places across the borough.   Early years places are high quality, as demonstrated by the Ofsted rating of the providers delivering places.  The Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF) continues to complement the borough’s childcare offer.  Workforce and rising costs are seen as significant challenges by providers and are likely to remain issues in the immediate term.  A minority of settings reported that they were concerned about their financial sustainability, in the face of rising costs.  The combination of these factors has the potential to impact upon sufficiency of childcare places as the expansion of the early years entitlements continues. The local authority will closely monitor provider numbers to ensure continued choice and sufficiency of childcare for families, with particular emphasis on out of school provision. 

Demand

The demographic information suggests that the number of children requiring childcare is likely to remain static or decline slightly in the short term.  However, the expansion to the early years entitlements is expected to increase demand for Government funded places for children aged 2 and under, with working families.  Demand for formal childcare is high in the north and east of the borough, although demand exists across every ward.  The impact of new housing developments in the borough may alter the geographic distribution of demand at a local level but will not necessarily result in significant additional total demand.  The proportion of eligible children taking up their funded early years entitlements remains high, suggesting demand can currently be met.  Almost all children access their government funded entitlement in high quality provision.  The local authority will continue to promote the support available to families to help them meet the cost of childcare.   The local authority will continue to support families to navigate the phased expansion of the early years entitlements. 

SEND 

The quality of childcare provision is high, and most children access their early years entitlements in settings rated ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted.  Support to enable early years children with lower level and emerging SEN to access childcare, is established and effective.  The proportion of children with SEND accessing the Government funded entitlements are broadly in line with regional and national averages.  The local authority and its partners will continue working to ensure children are able to access high need provision, where appropriate.  The local authority has launched a new Early Years Inclusion Service, as part of a wider Early Years Partnership, which is supporting children to access their entitlement.  The service and wider partnership support settings to build their skills, knowledge, expertise and capacity to support children with SEND across North Tyneside. 

Conclusion 

North Tyneside retains a strong network of providers able to deliver high quality places.   The local authority will continue to support and engage the sector, to help it meet the challenges of the future and support the needs of families.  North Tyneside currently has sufficient childcare provision to allow eligible families to take up their funded childcare entitlements and meet the needs of working parents with children during the early years.  However, there may be limited or no availability in particular settings, particularly during the summer term.   North Tyneside has successfully delivered the first phase of the working families entitlement expansion and will meet demand for the second phase.  The sector faces a significant increase in demand for childcare places ahead of the final phase of the expansion in September 2025.  The borough expects to need additional early years places, particularly for children under 2 years of age to meet anticipated demand.   Rising costs, the availability of additional space and difficulties in recruiting and retaining staff remain the most significant  barriers to meeting future demand.  The local authority is working closely with the early years sector to increase the supply of childcare places ahead of September 2025.  The local authority is also working closely with schools to ensure they can deliver the expansion in wraparound provision for primary / first school age children. 

Priorities for Action