Decision - Early Years Capital Grant

1.       That the development of the Preston Park Children’s Centre at the Fiveways Pre School Playgroup, off Florence Road, be agreed as per the proposals set out in the report.

2.       That the following allocations for the Early Years Capital Grant (full details as set out in annex 1 to the report, all subject to further local consultation) be agreed:

·       Stringer Playgroup, Surrenden Campus – up to £160,000

·       St Joseph’s Playgroup, Hollingdean- up to £50,000

·       Little Ducklings, Hangleton – up to £70,000

·       Roundabout Nursery – up to £200,000

·       Brighton Unemployed Centre – up to £90,000

·       Village Under Fives, Portslade – up to £300,000

·       Refurbishment and/or rebuilding of sport pavilions housing early years providers including Dolphins in Nevill Park, Hollingbury Park Playgroup and Westdene Playgroup subject to further assessments and local consultation – up to £790,000.

1.       Fiveways is an extended day playgroup based on local authority land off Florence Road.  They are one of the largest early years providers in the city with 52 places and were attended by 101 3 and 4 year olds in January 2009 including 16 children from disadvantaged areas.  They also provide places for 2 year olds and collect children from Balfour and Downs Schools for after school care.  Fiveways have an outstanding Ofsted judgement. 

2.       The early years capital funding aims to improve the quality of the learning environment with a strong emphasis on children accessing a high quality outside environment.  There are just over 100 daycare providers in the city in the private, voluntary and independent sector with a wide variation in the standards of premises.  An audit as been completed of groups in rented accommodation across the city looking at the state of repair of the building including access to natural light, disability access and children’s access to a safe outside space.  Many of these buildings and sites are owned by the Council.  The poorest quality accommodation is based in buildings which are multi-purpose eg. sports pavilions and have to meet the needs of different users and  pre-fabricated buildings that were installed in the 1970s and are now coming to the end of their lifespan.

3.       The reports also proposes an extension to the Roundabout nursery to increase the number of spaces for two year olds.  This is needed to provide places for children on the child protection register and free places for the city’s most disadvantaged two year olds.

1.       In Preston Park Fiveways Playgroup was the only provider to express an interest in hosting the Children’s Centre by the deadline. 

2.       The recommendations follow the guidance from the Department for Children, Families and Schools to target the funding on the private and voluntary sector and for the funding to be based on an assessment of need.  The alternative would be to spread the funding across a larger number of childcare providers so that more providers could have made smaller improvements.  The audit and feasibility studies have shown that there are a number of buildings in a very poor state of repair.  This may be the only chance of replacing these buildings. Many of the groups in these buildings are run by voluntary management committees and tend to charge affordable fees to parents.  Targeting the funding on the settings in greatest need supports the Council’s duty to improve early years outcomes and narrow the gap between the most disadvantaged children and their peers.