North Tyneside childcare sufficiency statement

Working Families Entitlement for 2 Year Olds

The table below shows the number of working families codes issued, validated for 2 year olds in summer 2024 in each ward (as of Jan 2025).  It also shows the percentage of codes validated. 

Uptake of the new entitlement appears strong with 98% of 2 year old codes issued in summer 2024 being validated.  This suggests that parents in North Tyneside had access to sufficient 2 year old places to meet demand during the first phase of the entitlements expansion. Take up was consistently high across all wards. Weetslade and Killingworth had the lowest validation rates.  The Local Authority will monitor the sufficiency of provision for the working families entitlement for 2 year olds, with a particular focus on the north west of the borough. A key challenge will be to ensure that children who are eligible for funding because they are in receipt of additional Government support will continue to be able to access places.   The Local Authority will continue to uptake of the entitlement for children aged 2 years receiving additional forms of support. 

Further Expansion of the Working Families Entitlement 

Phase 2 of the early years entitlement expansion will result in working families with children aged under 2 years, receiving a 15 hour entitlement from September 2024 onwards. The local authority expects to have sufficient places for under 2 year olds to meet demand in September 2024. 

The final phase of the early years entitlement expansion will take place in September 2025.  The Local Authority is forecasting a shortfall of places for under 2 year olds, particularly in the North and north west of the borough.  The Local Authority will continue to work with the sector to address this shortfall. 

Wraparound Expansion 

The childcare offer is also expanding for school age children, with a national programme aimed at ensuring that all parents and carers of primary school-aged children (5-11 years) who need it can access term time childcare in their local area from 8am-6pm.  Enabling parents to access employment and improve labour market opportunities.  To support this ambition, the government announced that it will provide start-up funding, over two academic years to support local authorities and providers in to introduce or expand childcare provision on either side of the school day, which parents of primary school-aged children will be able to pay to access. This programme is focussed on primary aged children from reception to year 6, Monday to Friday during term time.