Early Years and Childcare: Local Authority Developing Practice - Improving communication and engaging with parents

These case studies explore different approaches to extending the reach and take up of good quality childcare with hard-to-reach groups in local Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities.

The BME Project aims to extend the reach and take-up of good quality childcare and early years' provision among Black and Minority Ethnic Families (BME). The work is focused on improving communication and engagement, supporting employment, extending the reach of the 3 and 4-year-old flexible offer, and adapting the supply of provision through offering flexible hours, workforce diversity and improved skills.

Six local authorities in different parts of the country are participating. The project aims to help participating authorities move from specific examples of good practice to a more strategic approach.

To help you select the case study most appropriate to your needs, we have provided brief details of the contents here:

Bradford - Sessional care and BME community
This document describes the purpose and impact of bilingual outreach and group work with parents and children, mainly from Pakistani and Bangladeshi families, prior to children taking up the 3-year-old offer.

Rotherham - Childcare Taster Initiative
This document describes the free childcare taster initiative which has, for the past 3 years, enabled providers to promote their setting to new parents/carers through the use of a free taster session.

Increasing the take-up of formal childcare among BME Families and Families with a Disabled child (A report to the DCSF)
This report explores a range of practical ideas to increase take up of formal childcare and early years' provision among the Black and Minority Ethnic population and families looking after a disabled child.