Lack of staff contributing to childcare crisis
A report found 64 more childminders have closed rather than opened since 2015
At a glance
The recruitment and retention crisis in the childcare sector is affecting the number of places available in Wiltshire.
With huge housing developments planned across the county and the potential need for 4,415 additional places, there are concerns for the future.
There has been a downward trend in childminding solutions for parents in Wiltshire.
- Published
Issues with recruitment and the retention of staff is contributing to a childcare crisis affecting young children and their families.
Wiltshire Council's Children's Select Committee met in Trowbridge County Hall on Tuesday to discuss concerns highlighted in their autumn report.
It found that 64 more childminders have closed rather than opened since 2015 and due to a lack of qualified staff in nurseries and preschools, only 8,950 places of 10,231 are available.
Wiltshire Council said it hopes to promote childcare as "a credible choice for young people, as well as those returning to work or thinking of a career change".
No current vacancies
New housing developments being built in the county leave the potential for 4,415 new spaces to be needed, the committee heard.
But there has been a downward trend in childminding solutions for parents in Wiltshire.
According to the autumn report, there are currently 312 childminders in Wiltshire offering a maximum of 936 places, and 259 nursery and preschool providers registered for 10,231 early years places.
A recent survey for the government's Wraparound Programme revealed there were no current vacancies with childminders across Bradford-on-Avon, Corsham and Malmesbury for babies to four-year-olds.
Wiltshire Council issued a report on the childcare crisis
The report noted that the recruitment of suitable staff, especially at management level, is impacting the Ofsted grading of some settings.
This has led to 13 group settings being closed between January and July this year, with the loss of 426 places across Amesbury, Chippenham and Downton.
The report indicated that the biggest impact of these closures has been in Melksham.
It added the town has "an already high childcare demand", with the situation expected to worsen.
It said there is an intention to submit plans for a new school, with early years provision, in the town but the earliest it would open is September 2026.
The council reports that although Wiltshire currently has adequate provision for local demand in most places, new provision is required in areas with high occupancy, including Amesbury, Bradford on Avon, Melksham, Tidworth, Trowbridge, Warminster and Westbury.
Lack of recruitment of qualified childminders has had an affect on the Ofsted grading in many areas
Despite this, the report said, Wiltshire continues to sit above the national average in its number of children benefiting from early education entitlement.
The report said: "Early years is a very high priority area, and it is important that in Wiltshire we are ready to meet the need for places.
"It is essential that there is sufficient capacity made available to the commissioning team to ensure that the statutory duty of the local authority can be met.
"Officers will continue to work with the early years and childcare sector, colleagues within the council, communities and others to ensure there is sufficient provision."
The council will implement a county-wide action plan that will focus on development work in the coming year.