Take stock of local needs

While the development of children's centres is broadly welcomed, we cannot lose sight of the effect this initiative has on already established childcare.

I work in a range of settings in several regions, and it is increasingly concerning to find a lack of strategic development.

Certain new children's centres, predominantly on school sites, are being developed in close proximity to existing childcare (be that private, public or maintained) and essentially threatening the sustainability of both services. Given that local authorities, not only in their role as strategic developers but now service providers, have a responsibility to all providers, isn't it time for a mechanism to gauge potential impact at the planning stage?

I believe an impact assessment needs to be built into the development process for new childcare, which would include consultation with providers, and enable local decision-making to be informed by on-the-ground knowledge.

This would result in bottom-up solutions which are responsive to both the area's Childcare Audit and the views of local people.