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Executive Summary
- Overall, the borough has maintained a diverse childcare offer able to deliver sufficient childcare places.
- Demand for early years childcare places is high, underpinned by the expansion in early years entitlements.
- North Tyneside 0-4 and 5-14 year old population is expected to continue declining in the short / medium term.
- The proportion of eligible children taking up their funded early years entitlements remains high.
- There is limited spare capacity, particularly the under 2 years age group. Less than half of early years childcare providers were confident that they could meet demand for places for children aged 2 years or younger.
- The quality of provision is high, with the overwhelming majority of early years places delivered in settings rated ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted.
- The proportion of children with SEND accessing the Government funded entitlements are broadly in line with regional and national averages.
- A minority of settings reported that they were concerned about their financial sustainability.
- Staffing and physical space are identified as the greatest barriers to providers wishing to expand their provision.
