Early Years Development & Childcare Partnership

Blaenau Gwent Early Years Development & Childcare Partnership (EYDCP) is responsible for delivering Early Years and Child Care services for children 0- 14 throughout the County Borough.

Blaenau Gwent EYDCP Strategic Aim is: -
To ensure that every child in Blaenau Gwent has the best start in life and best possible basis in their early years for their future growth and development.

The EYDCP is a subgroup of the Children and Young People's Partnership Core Aim 1 group, which delivers the vision to enable children to have a flying start in life. Blaenau Gwent EYDCP will contribute to this priority by the formatting of it’s own 3-year strategic plan 2008-2011.

This 3-year strategic plan 2008-2011 sets out how all partnership agencies will work together to achieve common goals to improve outcomes and ensure all children in Blaenau Gwent have a flying start in life.

With the challenges of the new initiatives and policies that need to be part of our planning, such as, Childcare Act 2006, Children Act 2004, Foundation Phase, Flying Start, WAG Quality Assurance, National Service Framework, Common Assessment Framework and Genesis Wales, the new 3 year period will be a challenging but exciting time in the early years and childcare sector.

Who is represented on the EYDCP?

The EYDCP is a statutory partnership of childcare professionals with a wide membership including private and voluntary sector providers, Education, Social Services, Job Cntre Plus and any other relevant agency that works within the early years and childcare sector.
The EYDCP meets quarterly to discuss and advise on the work of early childhood services in response to the Childcare Act 2006. This ensures that national and local priorities are met.

What is the role of the EYDCP ?

Over the past ten years, Blaenau Gwent EYDCP has been instrumental in shaping quality early years and childcare services throughout the Authority, increasing registered childcare places, promoting and continuously improving the quality of provision both with the LEA and voluntary and private sectors.
Registered childcare places in Blaenau Gwent have quadrupled from 242 places in 2002 to over 1000 in 2008.

Under the Childcare Act 2006 Local Authorities in Wales are required to prepare assessments of the sufficiency of childcare in their area, as part of a local mapping of provision and assessment of need.
Blaenau Gwent Childcare Sufficiency assessment 2008 is now available.

In addition, a number of initiatives are likely to play an important part in securing sufficient childcare, including:

the universal free offer of a part time education place for all
3 and 4 year olds;
free part time childcare for 2 year olds in Flying Start areas;
the childcare element of the Working Tax Credits;
the New Deal for Lone parents and New Deal for Partners
plus other discretionary funding from Jobcentre Plus;
workplace nurseries;
employer supported childcare voucher schemes operated
by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs; and
Genesis Wales and successor ESF sponsored projects.

From April 2008, the Local Authorities’ role in facilitating the childcare market is supported from Revenue Support Grant (RSG).

The Blaenau Gwent 3 Year Strategic Plan has been developed as a result of the need identified in the Childcare Sufficiency Assessment 2008 the EYDCP startegic Plan is now avauilable on
The plan looks at key matters relating to early years and childcare such as:

New childcare targets for children aged 0-14 years
The provision of childcare and early years information
Educational places for 3 and 4 year olds
Quality Assurance
Training
Recruitment
Sustainability of the early years and childcare sector
Regulation of childcare services
How parents/ carers and their children can get involved

The views of parents/carers and in particular the children are very important when planning services for children. Parents know what their children need and have the local knowledge that is needed to successfully develop early years and childcare for all children. We would like to hear your views.

The EYDCP can provide help, advice and support for:

Childcare providers and early years play workers.
Information and signposting on careers in childcare.
Setting up, registering and developing out of school childcare, childminding and pre-school care.
Training opportunities and advice on sustaining quality, affordable and accessible childcare.

Childcare regulation

Q. Who regulates childcare?
A. The Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW) make sure that our services meet required standards and are responsible for regulating day care services for children. These services include child-minders, playgroups, some crèches, day nurseries, out of school clubs and some play schemes. It does not include nannies and au pairs.
Providers must be registered if they operate for more than 2 hours in one day or for more than 6 days in any year. The CSSIW decide who can provide childcare services, inspect and make sure that the minimum standards are met and deal with complaints.
For more information about childcare policies and regulations contact:

CSSIW Regional Office
Civic Centre
Pontypool
Gwent
NP4 6YB
Telephone: 01495 761200

Q. How do I gain accreditation to become a Childcare Provider?
A. Contact us on (08000 32 33 39) or e-mail us at fis@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk