Barnet Council has confirmed sufficient childcare provision across the borough, with a recent Children and Education Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting identifying two specific wards, Burnt Oak and Golders Green, for closer monitoring.
The committee reviewed the Annual Child Care Sufficiency Assessment, which concluded that while overall provision is adequate, these two wards require focused attention. The council has been actively supporting schools and nurseries with capital funding to expand their offerings.
Significant progress has been made in rolling out the childcare offer for working families, providing up to 30 hours of free early education for children aged nine months to school age. This complements the universal 15 hours for three and four-year-olds, and a similar entitlement for disadvantaged two-year-olds.
