Summary Part 1: General Functions of Local Authority: England
9.This Part sets out the duties placed upon local authorities in three main areas – improving the outcomes for young children, securing sufficient childcare and providing information to parents. These duties reflect the growing strategic role that local authorities have in planning, commissioning and delivering services for children and families. The duties in this Part will allow local authorities the flexibility to implement delivery in ways that best suit their particular circumstances, and will allow future development without the need to alter the underpinning legislation.
10.Part 1 requires local authorities in England to improve well-being for young children, and defines well-being according to the five outcomes identified in the Green Paper ‘Every Child Matters’ (September 2003): being healthy, staying safe, enjoying and achieving, making a positive contribution and achieving economic well-being. It requires early childhood services (identified as early years provision, health services, social services and employment services) to be provided in an integrated manner. It provides for the NHS and Jobcentre Plus to work in partnership with the local authority to deliver these early childhood services in an accessible and integrated way.
11.Local authorities are also required to secure sufficient childcare for working parents and those making the transition to work. They have a duty to regularly assess demand for, and availability of, local childcare provision and to support local childcare providers with information, advice and training. Local authorities will generally be able to charge for childcare which they provide but they are required to secure that a prescribed amount of early years provision is provided free of charge for young children.
12.This Part also places a duty on local authorities to set up and run a service for parents and prospective parents, providing information on services, facilities and publications which may benefit them or children or young people and providing advice and assistance on childcare.