A consultation, Solving the quality/cost conundrum for London's childcare workforce, was commissioned by the London Childcare Workforce Project, which comprises London Councils, London Development Agency, Learning and Skills Council London, and Children's Workforce Development Council.
The main report gives a detailed map of the current funding in the region and another outlines the recommendations made by the authors, Firstcare Consultancy. The five local authorities providing in-depth local data were Barnet, Bromley, Hounslow, Islington and Newham.
The consultation looked at ways to improve the workforce without putting extra costs on providers and parents.
The report found that there had been a 29 per cent projected underspend of the Transformation Fund in 2006/07, and that providers and local authorities were concerned about the possible demise of this funding source after 2007/08. Private and voluntary providers also cited the time limit commitment of the fund as a barrier to taking it up.
Denise Burke, senior childcare manager at the LDA, said she expected further money to be earmarked.
TProviders also need to look at how else you reward staff, like helping them to work flexibly around their families, she said. TThis report shows that there is a plethora of funding streams to fund training and up-skills, so the recommendations are really about drawing these together.
TYou can't look at affordability and workforce separately. We all know it would be an instant fix to increase fees. But nursery capacity is falling beca'se of cost and lack of flexible working. Marcia Daigo Daley, the CWDC's regional development manager for London, said, TThe main regional issue for me is the funding. The point of doing this report is to say, let's look at where the money's coming from.
The pan-London element is missing and it needs to be there. How are we all spending it? We need to sit round the table and be transparent about what money weve got so we can communicate to the workforce. To read and respond to the interim report and recommendations, go to www.londoncouncils.gov.uk.