05.12.11
Budget cuts hamper FIS
Local authority Family Information Services (FIS) are suffering from budget cuts, with some failing to comply with the duties outlined in the Childcare Act 2006.
FIS provide assistance and information for parents and children, including guidance for the provision of childcare and other services which may be of benefit for families in their area.
A survey conducted by the childcare charity the Daycare Trust found that 88% of FIS have had their budgets cut, with this leading to many being merged into generic council call centres, thus damaging the quality of their service.
Of the local authorities surveyed, 62% have had to cut staff and 34% were not able to say that their FIS complied with Section 12 of the Childcare Act 2006.
Anand Shukla, chief executive of the Daycare Trust, said: “The results of this survey are obviously extremely concerning, although sadly not surprising. As budget cuts continue to bite and fewer staff are forced to share bigger workloads, it’s inevitable that front line services will suffer.
“Families with specialist needs and those with disabled children are being hit particularly hard; local authorities in England have a legal duty to provide brokerage services, offering all families detailed advice and support.
“Too often, generic council call centres do not have the specialist expertise to deal with complex calls and many limit the time that an operator can speak to a caller, resulting in parents being cut off mid-conversation. This means that thousands of families could now face missing out on vital information.”
The Daycare Trust is calling for greater resources to fund FIS, and a more detailed schedule for Ofsted inspections of FIS when visiting local authorities.
Shukla continued: “Providing the right information to families at the right time is the ultimate in early intervention. By investing in high quality childcare support now we can not only ensure families can access the services they need but prevent child poverty in the future.”
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