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Performance tables to include school childcare provision

Schools are to list their childcare provision in performance tables from next year to help parents access free hours 'with one simple click'.

The DfE also unveiled plans to increase the number of Teach First early years trainees for 2015/16 from 38 to 82.

Information published on childcare provision will include full-time nurseries, holiday and after-school provision in primaries and secondaries.

Childcare minister Sam Gyimah said, 'Getting the right childcare is one of the most important decisions any parents make – we want to make it easier for families to find and access as many high-quality options as simply as possible.
 
'A lot of schools are offering this valuable support, but parents shouldn’t have to click through seven pages of a website to find out about it.
 
'I want to save parents from that headache and help to put them in touch with the right provider for their family.'

The DfE said that the move was 'an important step-change that will support parents to make the best childcare decisions for their families and help them to access their 15 hours of free childcare per week for three' and four-year-olds with one simple click.'

The provision of childcare will not be included in the assessment of a school's performance.

Purnima Tanuku OBE, Chief Executive of National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA), said,'Parents want and need to know about the full range of childcare options available to them locally, including schools, nurseries and childminders.

'Under the Childcare Act, local authorities have a duty to provide information about all types of childcare providers.

'The DfE is currently tendering for a one-stop-shop website and app which will list all childcare options for parents. Publication of these performance tables should go hand in hand with this app so that there is a full range of information available to parents, rather than schools being prioritised.

'Many schools provide their out of school clubs by working in partnership with private and voluntary nurseries anyway – our latest survey shows that 43% of our members work with schools in this way.'



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