Agenda item

To receive management action plans in relation to an Early Years Extended Entitlement no assurance internal audit.

Emma Cooke (Early Years Manager) and Lucy-Anne Bryant (Service Lead – Strategic Families and Children’s Commissioning) gave a presentation, as contained within the agenda, on the Early Years Extended Entitlement internal audit, which had received a no assurance opinion. The findings of the internal audit were detailed, along with management actions in response to the findings, and progress against those.

In response to questions, it was explained that departments coordinated, using a system called Liquid Logic, which they could use to help predict levels of SEN, Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), levels of need and even predict school place needs.

Members commented that it was good to see checks and balances being implemented.

In response to further questions, it was explained that what the government allocated was based on the previous year, however a reconciliation was undertaken with government so that any unused funds were returned. The council did not feel that they had been victims of fraud in terms of people misusing the scheme. Reconciliation was being implemented with settings, by checking registers, to ensure that children were getting the number of hours being claimed for. If they were not, then the council would recoup over payments

Officers explained that there were over 500 providers, including nursery’s, pre-school and childminders. The council had received funds from government to create new childcare places and 244 had been created since March last year. A couple of brand new settings had also been created, so the need was being met.

In terms of the annual self-assessment surveys to be completed by providers, help would be provided to the providers to complete this if required.

Officers explained that there was no delay in providing the funds for the Inclusion Support Funding (ISF) to providers due to assessments, as in terms of ISF there was no diagnosis required. So long as it could be shown what the money was required for and how it would support the child, and that universal support had already been used but that the child needed more support.  By implementing these early intervention measures it was hoped that the children would not need to go down the route of an EHCP. It was explained that ISF was driven by the provider, but that the parent had to give permission.

Members requested further clarity regarding possible fraud. Officers explained that a parent might request 25 hours of care, but a provider might say they are giving 30 hours. Any inconsistencies would be checked with both the parent and the provider. In addition, parent declarations would be checked against registers for 10% of providers for compliance checks. So, there was a residual risk on the other 90%. Depending on the results from the 10%, if over half were found to be incorrect, a wider audit would be undertaken expanding it up to 20% of settings. 

On the proposal of the Chairman, seconded by Cllr Gavin Grant, it was,

Resolved:

To note the Early Years Extended Entitlement internal audit - management action plans.