Early years' provision for 26 children aged 2 months to 5 years

The Council was made aware of the sudden and permanent closure of a childcare setting in Huntingdonshire. A ring-around of settings within the local area showed that there was not sufficient capacity to accommodate children registered at the setting. A waiver was therefore sought to ensure a suitable provider could be identified sooner than would be possible if a tender process was carried out and to enable the Council to continue meeting its statutory duties to ensure sufficient childcare to enable parents to work and train.