3Specific duties of local authority in relation to early childhood services(1)

For the purpose of their general duty under section 1(1), an English local authority have the further duties imposed by subsections (2) and (3).

(2)

The authority must make arrangements to secure that early childhood services in their area are provided in an integrated manner which is calculated to—

(a)

facilitate access to those services, and

(b)

maximise the benefit of those services to parents, prospective parents and young children.

(3)

The authority must take steps—

(a)

to identify parents or prospective parents in the authority’s area who would otherwise be unlikely to take advantage of early childhood services that may be of benefit to them and their young children, and

(b)

to encourage those parents or prospective parents to take advantage of those services.

(4)

An English local authority must take all reasonable steps to encourage and facilitate the involvement in the making and implementation of arrangements under this section of—

(a)

parents and prospective parents in their area,

(b)

early years providers in their area, including those in the private and voluntary sectors, and

(c)

other persons engaged in activities which may improve the well-being of young children in their area.

(5)

In discharging their duties under this section, an English local authority must have regard to such information about the views of young children as is available to the local authority and appears to them to be relevant to the discharge of those duties.

(6)

In discharging their duties under this section, an English local authority must have regard to any guidance given from time to time by the Secretary of State.

(7)

In this section—

“early years provider” has the same meaning as in Part 3;

“parent” and “prospective parent” have the same meaning as in section 2.