Will the Minister confirm what policy and guidance exists in relation to the provision of holiday clubs, after school clubs and wrap around care, in primary special schools?
Registered child minders and providers of day care, regardless of where the childcare is delivered, are required to meet the standards within the National Minimum Standards (NMS). Therefore this includes registered day care located at “primary special school” sites. This guidance was refreshed on the 18 May 2023. The NMS support providers in meeting the requirements within the Child Minding and Day Care Regulations (2010) as amended.
Childcare: statutory guidance for local authorities (gov.wales) provides guidance on settings which require registration and those who are not required to register in accordance with The Childminding and Day Care (Disqualification) (Wales) Regulations 2022.
This guidance also states that local authorities should give special consideration to specific groups of families including the childcare and play needs of families with children who have additional needs.
This guidance is intended to assist local authorities discharge their duty to:
- ensure sufficient childcare is available
- undertake childcare sufficiency assessments (CSAs); and
- provide information, advice and assistance relating to childcare to parents, prospective parents and those with parental responsibility or care of a child.
As part of assessing the demand of childcare as part of the CSAs local authorities are required to consider the number of childcare places required for children who have special educational needs or require specialist care due to a disability. This includes assessing the demand for out of school childcare or wrap around care. Local authorities have a statutory duty to secure, as far as is reasonably practicable, provision of childcare that is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents in their area to enable them to work or undertake education or training.