NOT all vulnerable children that qualify for Early Years childcare in Powys are taking up their places, councillors have heard.

Powys County Council’s staff told councillors at a meeting of the health and care scrutiny committee on Wednesday, June 10, that social workers were meeting families to encourage all qualifying children to take up places.

But Councillor Amanda Jenner said that the report from May 11 that was discussed by the committee, showed that of 157 children booked in for places at childminders or private nurseries, only 12 were classed as vulnerable children.

Cllr Jenner (Trewern – Conservative) said: “It’s a concern. Are we aware of how many have not taken up early years?

“What’s happening to encourage vulnerable children to go to these settings and continue to going?”

Strategic children’s programme manager Joanna Harris said the council's children's services department has a list of vulnerable children which it checks against those booked in for childcare.

She added: “We have all the information on those who have and have not attended, we ask social workers to work with families and encourage attendance.”

Ms Harris told the committee that several reasons might affect attendance, including a family having a member shielding, or a general fear of sending them due to coronavirus.

She added that since the report from May 11, the number of vulnerable children attending childcare has increase.

Director of social services Ali Bulman added that unlike some local authorities, PCC had continued to hold face to face visits between vulnerable children and social workers throughout the lockdown.

Portfolio holder, Councillor Rachel Powell, said: “This is non-statutory so you can’t force families to attend.”

There are 29 settings in Powys currently providing early years childcare to children of critical workers and vulnerable children.