�°������ϲʹ�������

The Alliance has called on the Department for Education to publish externally-commissioned research from Deloitte – used in the ‘Review of childcare costs: the analytical report’ in November 2015 – following a ruling from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

 

The Alliance requested a copy of the Deloitte research in January 2016, and was told in March this year that .

 

Having appealed the decision and been rejected on the same grounds, the Alliance then went to the ICO which has now ruled against the DfE, saying that the information held by Deloitte is done so “on behalf of the DfE”.

 

The freedom of information request states that “information is held by a public authority if… it is held by another person on behalf of the authority”.

 

Neil Leitch, chief executive at the Pre-school Learning Alliance, said that he was pleased with the ICO’s ruling.

 

“The research commissioned by the DfE to Deloitte played an integral role in its review of childcare delivery costs, and by extension, the development of the new early years funding rates due to come into effect next year,” Neil said.

 

“As such, this information must be made public and open to scrutiny, especially given that so many in the sector do not believe that the new funding rates are in fact enough to cover the cost of delivering funded places.”

 

The DfE must now issue a new response to the Alliance within 35 days.