Our Ref: 7431  

Dear Enquirer,

INFORMATION REQUEST

Thank you for your request for information which will be dealt with under
the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 / Environmental
Information Regulations 2004.

In some circumstances a fee may be payable and if that is the case, we
will let you know the likely charges before proceeding.

If you have any queries about this matter please contact us. Please
remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

Kind regards

Information Governance Office
Northumberland County Council
County Hall
Morpeth
Northumberland
NE61 2EF

Tel: 0345 600 6400
Email: [Northumberland County Council request email]
Web: http://www.northumberland.gov.uk

Our Ref: 7431   

Dear Enquirer,

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUEST

I refer to your Freedom of Information request in relation to sufficient
childcare.

Right of Access

Section 1(1) of the Act provides any person making a request for
information to a public authority is entitled.

(a) to be informed in writing by the public authority whether it holds
information of the description specified in the request (which Section
1(6) of the Act designates as the "duty to confirm or deny"), and

(b) if that is the case, to have that information communicated to him.

The right is to obtain access to the information itself and not to the
document or record which contains it.

The Act creates a general right of access to information held by public
authorities subject to various exemptions.

Northumberland County Council confirms that it holds the information you
have requested, please see the attached
information in response.

I’d like to make a request regarding your early years sufficiency
reporting.

According to the DfE’s Early education and childcare Statutory guidance
for local authorities, in accordance to the Childcare Act 2006 and the
Childcare Act 2016, LAs are required by legislation to secure sufficient
childcare, so far as is “reasonably practicable, for working parents, or
parents who are studying or training for employment, for children aged
0-14 (or up to 18 for disabled children)”.

As part of this they should also encourage providers to take a sustainable
business approach to planning and signpost providers to resources which
can support them.

Local Authorities are requested to report annually to elected council
members on how they are meeting their duty to secure sufficient childcare.
LA’s are also obliged to make this data available and accessible to
parents.

Therefore, I would like to request your most recent evidence of this
reporting, and where parents are able to access this.  

We undertake a childcare sufficiency audit on an annual basis and as a
result we produce a sufficiency plan. Please see attached.

This is normally available on the Northumberland County Council website,
however as we are in the process of upgrading the website the link below
is to the previous plan which will be changed on 1st March:
[1]https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/Childr...

Families Information Service and the Early Years Team are involved in the
audit process so can provide parents and providers with information upon
request.  

Complaints

If you are unhappy with the way your request for information has been
handled, you can request an internal review by writing within 2 months
from the date of this response to the Information Governance Office:

Information Governance Office
Northumberland County Council
County Hall
Morpeth
NE61 2EF

Email: [Northumberland County Council request email]

Information Commissioner

If you remain dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have a
right by Section 50 of the Act to apply to the Information Commissioner
for a decision as to whether your request has been dealt with in
accordance with the requirements of the Act at:

The Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Tel: 0303 123 1113
Email: [email address]

There is no charge for making an appeal.

Yours faithfully

FOI Coordinator -
Information Governance Office
Northumberland County Council
County Hall
Morpeth
Northumberland
NE61 2EF

Tel: 0345 600 6400
Email: [Northumberland County Council request email]
Web: http://www.northumberland.gov.uk

References

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