A NEW service directory will allow information provided to City of York Council’s Family Information Service to be reused including impartial data on childcare, youth clubs and children’s centres.

The newly published information can be freely used under an Open Government Licence and could allow web-developers and community groups to create new ways to make use of the information. The approach has meant some schools have been able to include childcare information on their own websites.

The move has been welcomed by a national charity. Tamar Shaw, of 4Children, said: “This can bring important information closer to families and empower them to understand their childcare options.”

The work to unlock the data has been funded through the Breakthrough Fund, administered by the Local Government Association, and is part of a wider initiative to make City of York Council and the information available to it more transparent.

More information is at yosd.org.uk