The Childcare Team

The Childcare Act 2006 means that the local authority now has a duty to ensure sufficient childcare to meet the needs of working parents. In order to ensure that Bridgend can fulfil this requirement the Children and Young People's Partnership have decided that a team dedicated to the development and support of childcare provision in the Borough should be created to ensure better working together between all providers of childcare.

The Team Structure

There are four members of the team and a team manager. Three of the team members have been recruited under contract from national organisations which already work in the childcare field and they will retain their links with their parent organisation. The team manager and the fourth member of the team are employed by the Local Authority.

The team members are:-

• Bethan Davies from Clybiau Plant Cymru Kids’ Clubs who will have responsibility for out of school settings including holiday clubs
• Kate Parry from MYM who will continue to work for MYM two & half days a week and will have responsibility for Welsh medium provision and the promotion of Welsh in all settings
• Cherril Watts from NCMA who will continue to recruit and support childminders

(Many of you will already be receiving support from these members of staff and this will NOT change)

• Amy Castle will have the responsibility for playgroups, mother and toddler groups and day nurseries. She will be coming out to meet you all over the next few weeks, looking at your needs and supporting you. She will develop links with Wales PPA and we hope that you will continue to be a part of that organisation.

• Kathryn King is the team manager.

Location of the team

The team is based on the 3rd Floor, Sunnyside, Bridgend, telephone 01656 642649.

Team responsibilities

The team will be responsible for:-

• Helping to undertake the annual childcare sufficiency audit required by the Welsh Assembly Government
• Developing new provision where it is needed and identifying the most appropriate provision for the area.
• Supporting existing provision
• Reporting on the training requirements of providers
• Developing and ensuring delivery of a comprehensive joint training programme
• Promoting high quality childcare through the Quality Assurance schemes
• Managing the grants payable to settings( these are under review)
• Working closely with the Family Information Service to ensure that information for parents is accurate and up to date
• Organising joint information events for childcare providers
• Developing provision for children who have particular needs and benefit from attending childcare provision

The team will be developing a training programme which will provide joint training for settings wherever possible. This will ensure that standards are maintained across all settings and also ensure better use of scarce financial resources. The first of these will be the delivery of a first aid training events which will take place during October and January. Each course will run over two days.

The team is the first of its kind in Wales and the arrangements will be subject to review which will include feedback from settings

The team is committed to supporting all childcare providers and ensuring that the childcare available to parents, children and young people in Bridgend is of the highest quality.

All enquiries relating to childcare should now be directed through the Bridgend Childcare team.