Decision details

The Director of Education and Inclusion Services advised Cabinet on the outcome of the recent consultation in respect of a proposal to introduce a charge for the additional childcare element, which is available prior to the commencement of free breakfast club provision in primary and special schools in Rhondda Cynon Taf, noting eligible Free School Meal (eFSM) pupils would be exempt from any charge.

The Cabinet Member for Education, Youth Participation and Welsh Language thanked the officers for the report and thanked the respondents to the consultation.

The Cabinet Member recognised that the Cabinet were considering the proposal because of the significant financial challenges faced by the Council. The Cabinet Member noted that the proposals before the Committee would maintain access to a free breakfast for all pupils; and that any additional income to be generated would be ring fenced and reinvested back into school budgets as part of the Council’s proposed 2024/25 Revenue Budget Strategy.

The Cabinet Member was pleased to note that eFSM pupils would be exempt from the proposed charge and emphasised that the most vulnerable in the community would be protected if Cabinet were to agree to the recommendations. The Cabinet Member also welcomed the recommendation in response to the consultation to agree a further category of concession whereby parents/carers would only pay for the first two children of primary age, living in the same household, accessing the provision.

In respect of the consultation responses, the Cabinet Member noted the strong feedback in respect of many parents/carers’ circumstances, whereby they may wish to access the childcare element, pre-the school day, for part of the working week only. The Cabinet Member questioned if it would be feasible to introduce a second option as part of the proposal, which would be a second charge for up to three days only. The Cabinet Member sought advice from the Director and if feasible, stated that he would be minded to propose an addition is made to recommendation 2.2, subject to comments of other Cabinet Members. The Director echoed the Cabinet Member’s comment that this was an emerging theme from the consultation responses and advised that the suggestion could be explored if Members were in agreement.  

The Deputy Leader took the opportunity to thank the Overview & Scrutiny Committee for its comments and feedback in respect of the proposals. In terms of the consultation, the Deputy Leader recognised the concerns expressed by parents through the consultation process, in respect of the additional financial cost that the proposal would introduce. The Deputy Leader explained that this was an area of support provided above what was originally intended, when free school breakfasts were introduced, and an area where a charge is already applied by a number of Local Authorities. It was noted that other Local Authorities, due to the decrease in Public Sector funding, were also currently consulting upon such proposals. The Deputy Leader was of the view that in comparison to the charges for child care, the cost proposed was reasonable.

The Cabinet Member for Environment and Leisure acknowledged the difficult decision faced by the Cabinet but stated that it was necessary in the current financial circumstances. The Cabinet Member questioned how the Council would ensure consistency as part of any implementation and access to the same level, or time, or childcare for the £1 charge.

The Director advised that officers would work with schools and partners due to the variations within the current breakfast clubs offer, in terms of the start and finish times. The Director recognised that, if approved by Cabinet, the offer would need to be equitable across the system.

The Leader commented that the consultation had demonstrated that the price cap for the first two children of primary age, living in the same household, accessing the provision, was the correct way forward. Similarly, the Leader noted that those eligible for FSM under the old criteria would be exempt from the charge was also welcomed in the consultation.  

In terms of the amendment to recommendation 2.2 as proposed by the Cabinet Member for Education, Youth Participation and Welsh Language, the Leader was in support of a two-tiered charging system and suggested an option for parents/carers to access the provision for up to three days per week only at a term time fee of £40. The Leader acknowledged that it would be too difficult to offer a daily charge but felt the two-tiered approach would be fairer in response to the consultation feedback.

Members were content with the amendment to recommendation 2.2 of the report and the Service Director of Democratic Services and Communication confirmed the following wording:

-       2.2 - To the preferred fee of £1 per day, rounded down to £60 per term, for the additional childcare element, which is available prior to the commencement of free breakfast club provision, to be implemented from the start of the spring term 2024 or as soon as is practicable thereafter; and to confirm the ability to access this provision for up to three days per week only, at a term time fee of £40.

The Cabinet RESOLVED:

1.    To note the information contained within the attached Consultation Report, which includes feedback received from the online surveys, emails and letters, the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 13^th December 2023 and the frequently asked questions posted on the Council’s website;

2.    To the preferred fee of £1 per day, rounded down to £60 per term, for the additional childcare element, which is available prior to the commencement of free breakfast club provision, to be implemented from the start of the spring term 2024 or as soon as is practicable thereafter; and to confirm the ability to access this provision for up to three days per week only, at a term time fee of £40;

3.    That eFSM pupils should be exempt from the proposed charge and agree a further category of concession whereby parents/carers would only pay for the first two children of primary age, living in the same household, accessing the provision; 

4.    That the additional income to be generated is ring fenced and reinvested back into school budgets as part of the Council’s proposed 2024/25 Revenue Budget Strategy; and

5.    To delegate authority to the Director of Education and Inclusion Services to undertake and conclude the necessary actions to implement the decision of Cabinet.