Provider Childcare Supply Questionnaire Introduction Legislation from the Government requires all local authorities to ensure there is sufficient childcare of all types available to meet the requirements of parents in their area. As a provider of childcare, the information that you can give will help the local authority to build a picture of what childcare is available in the Borough of Wigan. It can then plan more effectively to ensure that the future childcare needs of parents will be met. Please complete this questionnaire and return it in the Freepost envelope provided. Your answers will be kept strictly confidential and no individuals or childcare providers will be identifiable in the final report produced. If you have any difficulties or need any advice during the completion of the questionnaire, please ring the Childcare Sufficiency Team on 01942 828901 where a member of the team will be happy to help.

Inputter ID Number   --Click Here--12345678910Other Note for inputters: please find the ID number for this survey and enter it in here by choosing the first digit from the drop down list and enter the following 5 digits in the box provided below. (If the ID number on the survey is longer than 6 digits please ignore the remaining numbers) Survey ID Number   --Click Here--05 Please enter the next 5 digits of the ID number in the box below Area   --Click Here--AshtonAthertonBedford & Higher FoldsBeech HillBrynDouglas ValleyGolborneHindleyHopeInceLeigh CentralLowtonMosley CommonOrrell Lamberhead GreenPlatt BridgeShevingtonStandish/AspullTyldesleyWestfieldWestleigh

1.  Childcare Places Through Wigan Children's Information Service, we already know how many childcare places OFSTED has register you to provide. However, we would like you to tell us about any childcare places which you are registered for but you are not currently offering, and/or any childcare places which are vacant that is those which you are offering but are not currently being taken up. We are calling these places 'Places Not Offered' and 'Vacant Places' respectively. Q1.1 Do you currently offer all of the childcare places you are registered for? (Please tick (P) the appropriate box)   Yes (if yes, please go to Q1.2)   No (if no, please answer the questions below) Places not offered: (Note for inputters: please skip this question) Age 0 to 5 years Number registered places not offered: (Note for inputters: please skip this question) Reason why these registered places are not offered:

(Note for inputters: please skip this question) Age 5 to 8 years Number of registered places not offered: (Note for inputters: please skip this question) Reason why these registered places are not offered:

Q1.2 Do you currently have any vacant childcare places? (Please tick (P) the appropriate box)   Yes (if yes, please answer the next question)   No (if no, please go to Q1.3)

Please answer the following questions by age group, regarding vacant places: Age up to 5 years Number of vacant places   --Click Here--123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100101102103104105106107108109110111112113114115116117118119120121122123124125126127128129130131132133134135136137138139140141142143144145146147148149150 Reasons why places are vacant, if known. What is your general level of occupancy as a percentage (%) over a typical 12 month period?   --Click Here--0% - 20%21% - 40%41% - 60%61% - 80%81% - 100%

Age 5 to 8 years Number of vacant places   --Click Here--123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100101102103104105106107108109110111112113114115116117118119120121122123124125126127128129130131132133134135136137138139140141142143144145146147148149150 Reasons why places are vacant, if known. What is your general level of occupancy as a percentage (%) over a typical 12 month period?   --Click Here--0% - 20%21% - 40%41% - 60%61% - 80%81% - 100%

Age 8 or over (places exempt from Registration) Number of vacant places   --Click Here--123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100101102103104105106107108109110111112113114115116117118119120121122123124125126127128129130131132133134135136137138139140141142143144145146147148149150 Reasons why places are vacant, if known. What is your general level of occupancy as a percentage (%) over a typical 12 month period?   --Click Here--0% - 20%21% - 40%41% - 60%61% - 80%81% - 100%

Q1.3 What is the maximum length of time a child can stay at your setting for in one day? (please give answer in hours/minutes)   Hours --Click Here--0123456789101112131415161718192021222324   Minutes --Click Here--1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738394041424344454647484950515253545556575859

Q1.4 Generally, what number of children using your childcare service, live in Wigan Borough? Number of Wigan children   --Click Here--123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100101102103104105106107108109110111112113114115116117118119120121122123124125126127128129130131132133134135136137138139140141142143144145146147148149150151152153154155156157158159160161162163164165166167168169170171172173174175176177178179180181182183184185186187188189190191192193194195196197198199200201202203204205206207208209210211212213214215216217218219220221222223224225226227228229230231232233234235236237238239240241242243244245246247248249250 Total number of children   --Click Here--123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100101102103104105106107108109110111112113114115116117118119120121122123124125126127128129130131132133134135136137138139140141142143144145146147148149150151152153154155156157158159160161162163164165166167168169170171172173174175176177178179180181182183184185186187188189190191192193194195196197198199200201202203204205206207208209210211212213214215216217218219220221222223224225226227228229230231232233234235236237238239240241242243244245246247248249250

2.     Childcare for children with specific needs In this section we are looking at your approach to providing childcare which has regard to children's specific needs in terms in terms of their faith / culture, diet or disability. Note for inputters: this section looks quite different on-line to the paper version but will hopefully make sense. Q2.1 Please complete this table and tick (P) the appropriate box(es) Have any parents asked for childcare according to the following?   Yes   No Child has faith / cultural requirements   Child has dietary requirements   Child has disability requirements   If yes, are you usually able to meet their needs?   Yes   No Child has faith / cultural requirements   Child has dietary requirements   Child has disability requirements

If you find it difficult to meet their needs, please tell us what the major obstacles are: Child has faith / cultural requirements Child has dietary requirements Child has disability requirements

3.     Childcare costs For many parents, the costs of childcare are a major concern and this can have an effect on their ability to pay.  In this section, we would like you to tell us of the ways in which you help parents to meet childcare costs and the impact that delays in payment from parents has on you. Q3.1 Do you offer any discounts or reductions in your childcare costs? (Please tick (P) the appropriate box)   Yes   No If yes, please give details: If no, please tell us why not:

Q3.2 Do you promote the sources of financial assistance which are available to parents to help them meet the costs of childcare? (Please tick (P) the appropriate box)   Yes   No If yes, please give details: If no, please tell us why not:

Q3.3 What percentage (%) of parents who use your childcare service are more than 1 week overdue in paying their childcare fees? (Please tick (P) the appropriate box)   0% 1% to 25% 26% to 50% 51% to 75% 76% to 100%

Q3.3.1 What in your opinion, are the main reasons for parents paying late? (Please tick (P) the appropriate box)   Affordability of fees Not eligible for childcare element of the Working Tax Credit Other If other, please describe.

Q3.3.2 How problematic are late childcare fee payments for cash flow / finances? (Please tick (P) the appropriate box)   Extremely problematic Very problematic Somewhat problematic Not problematic at all

4.     Flexible childcare In this section we are looking at your approach to providing childcare on a 'flexible basis'. By this we mean childcare is required: -    at irregular times / days -    during the evening or at the weekend, because the parent works shifts, or -    on a short-term ad-hoc basis Q4.1 Please complete this table and tick (P) the appropriate box(es) Have any parents asked for childcare according to the following?   Yes   No Childcare is required at irregular times / days   Childcare is required during the evening or at the weekend   Childcare is required on a short-term ad-hoc basis

If yes, are you usually able to meet their needs?   Yes   No Childcare is required at irregular times / days   Childcare is required during the evening or at the weekend   Childcare is required on a short-term ad-hoc basis

For each option below, if you find it difficult to meet their needs, please tell us what the major obstacles are: Childcare is required at irregular times / days Childcare is required during the evening or at the weekend Childcare is required on a short-term ad-hoc basis

Q4.2 The government are proposing that from September 2011, parents should be given the option to allow their 4 year old to defer starting school in order to remain in an early years setting i.e. have 25 hours of free early years provision, until they reach compulsory school age (the term following their 5th birthday.) What issues, if any, would you anticipate in delivering this offer?

Q4.3 From September 2012, the government are proposing that parents are able to take up their free early years entitlement (formerly 3 & 4 Year old funding) as a "stretched offer" i.e. have fewer than 15 hours over more than 38 weeks. Will you be able to meet this proposal? (Please tick (P) the appropriate box)   Yes, all of my places can be offered in a stretched way Yes, some of my places can be offered in a stretched way No, I cannot offer any stretched places

Q5.     Your plans for the future We are aware that some childcare providers may be planning changes to their childcare services.  These changes will influence the number and range of childcare services available in the Borough. Knowing about them now will help us to plan the development of future childcare services with more accuracy. Please note that your answers do not commit you to anything! Q5.1 Please indicate what changes, if any, you are likely to make to your prices within the next 12 months. (Please tick (P) the appropriate box(es) Prices will increase per week by:   £0 to £5   £16 to £20 £6 to £10   £21 to £25 £11 to £15   £25 or above Q5a2 Those who have ticked anything in the price increase question - please tick in this box first   Please tell us which of your service(s) these price increases will apply to e.g. these prices will be increased for my out of school club OR these prices increases will apply across all my childcare services.   Prices will stay the same

Prices will decrease per week by:   £0 to £5   £16 to £20 £6 to £10   £21 to £35 £11 to £15   £25 or above Q5e Those who have ticked anything in the price decrease question - please tick in this box first     Please tell us which of your service(s) these price reductions will apply to e.g. these prices will be reduced for my out of school club OR these price reductions will apply across all my childcare services.

Q5.1.1 Please tell us why you will be making changes to your prices.   (Please tick (P) the appropriate box(es))   Inflation Graduate Leadership Fund To stay competitive Other If other, please describe.

Q5.2 Within the next 12 months, are you considering making any other changes to the range of childcare services you currently offer?  (Please tick (P) the appropriate box)   Yes   No Possible changes to your childcare service (if you operate more than one childcare service, please write which one(s) you are referring to if applicable). I will be offering childcare on a more flexible basis Details of change:

I will be increasing the number of childcare places offered Details of change

I will be reducing the number of childcare services offered Details of changes

I will be changing the age range of the children looked after Details of change

I will be selling this childcare business, if applicable Details of change

I will be moving premises Details of change

I will be closing this childcare business Details of change

Other (please describe) Details of change Thank you for completing this questionnaire.