27th July

Poor Take Up of Childcare Vouchers 
Cathy Wallace writing in Children Now notes that recent research by a childcare voucher company identified only 2% of working parents have signed up for childcare vouchers. 
HM Revenue & Customs, which is responsible for the voucher scheme does not keep figures of take up so was unable to confirm or reject the findings.  However, the Children's Information Service has analysed nearly 2500 parent questionnaires of which one question asked if parents were using childcare vouchers and found that 2.5% are using them.  This seems to correlate with the research findings.

11th July

The Cost of Holiday Childcare
The Daycare Trust has published the results of its annual survey of holiday childcare costs. The survey is compiled from responses from the national network of 200 Children's Information Services (CIS).  This year 136 CIS took part in the survey, which once again shows an upward trend.  Below is the average childcare cost for 5 days at a holiday club or playscheme in Yorkshire & Humberside compared with the national average.

                    2007          2006          2005          2004
Y&H                £90.82      £83.31      £77.19       £76.69
National         £80.99      £77.34      £76.05       £73.71

Research by Wakefield CIS shows that the cost per child per week across the Wakefield district ranges from between £75 to £100.

4th July

New Department for Children, Schools and Families
Ed Balls, Secretary of State for the newly established Department for Children, Schools and Families has spoken enthusiastically about plans for a good youth centre in every neighbourhood which could be started up with £150 million taken from defunct bank accounts.  Talking about the new department, he said, "The whole point is to see children in the round...It's to see that a promise on school standards is for all children, not just for some.  It's to see schools have a central role in the community and in the lives of all children.  Parents want their child to have a good school, to do well and fulfil their potential but also to be safe, have fun and be happy.  It's for us to provide the breakfast and after school clubs, out of school activities, sports and play."  A government statement say he will "assume responsibility for promoting the wellbeing, safety, protection and care for all young people."
The Guardian, 4th July 2007

2nd July

Updated Safeguarding Children Procedures
Today is the day that the new format, updated Safeguarding Children Procedures come into force.  All paper copies of the procedures should be destroyed and not used from today. To access the new computerised West Yorkshire Inter-agency Safeguarding Children procedures go to http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/lscb.