Statistics collected from local authorities (LAs) from 1999 to 2003 and from Ofsted from 2003 to March 2006 show that almost 2,000 new child care places were created in Swindon during that period.
From 1999 to March 2005 LAs were set child care place creation targets. Since then, the emphasis has been on LAs obtaining a close match between supply and demand and working with providers to develop a sustainable child care market.
General Sure Start Grant funding of more than £9.3 million has been awarded to the LA for 2006 to 2008, much of which may be used to help create places to meet the current and future demands of families in Swindon.