1. The role of information in supporting children and families in Wales Stephen Dunmore 1

2. Outline  About the Family and Childcare Trust  The Family and Childcare Trust’s work in Wales  The importance of Family Information Services to the early years policy agenda.  New report: ‘Complex enquiries and Family Information Services in Wales’  Future priorities for Family Information Services 2

3. Importance of information to the early years policy agenda 3  Information is crucial for parents, families, providers and the government  IPSOS Mori report, ‘Childcare information for parents’.  Sets out the importance of information in decisions about childcare  Emphasises the importance of quality information  Childcare and Early Years Survey of Parents 2012-13 (England)  Almost three-quarters (74 per cent) of parents who used formal childcare had accessed at least one source of information about childcare  39 per cent of parents felt there was too little information available in their local area  Assume similar trends in Wales

4. Future priorities for Family Information Services  There needs to be a continued recognition of the resources and capacity required to answer a complex enquiry  Stronger links to Flying Start and other anti-poverty initiatives  There needs to be a continued awareness of the importance of staff training and development  The key areas of strength that Welsh Family Information Services currently have deserve protecting and promoting  Welsh government and LAs can improve quality of online information through guidance and sharing best practice. 4

5. 5 familyandchildcaretrust.org @FamChildTrust facebook.com/famchildtrust youtube.com/famchildtrust