Duty to prepare and publish assessments

3.—(1) The local authority must prepare and publish assessments of the sufficiency of the provision of childcare in its area.

(2) The first assessment must be published by 31 March 2017.

(3) Subsequent assessments must be prepared and published at five yearly intervals.

(4) In preparing an assessment the local authority must have regard to any guidance given by the Welsh Ministers.

(5) The local authority must send a copy of the assessment prepared under paragraphs (2) and (3) to the Welsh Ministers.