Fair Play for Children Online Library — Child Care
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Childcare Act 2006 — the Act
This UK Act imposes certain obligations upon local authorities re children’s well-being and establishes new voluntary and compulsory registration requirements on childcare providers
- Her Majestyâ??s Stationery Office -
Childcare costs survey 2008
This is the seventh annual childcare costs survey conducted by Daycare Trust, the National Childcare Campaign. This yearâ??s survey shows that childcare costs continue to rise in England and Wales while costs in Scotland have slightly fallen. Parents also continue to report a lack of affordable childcare in their area.
- DayCare Trust -
Listening to parents of disabled children about childcare
Use of childcare varies greatly between parents of disabled children, and the type and level of the childâ??s disability may be a factor affecting their use. Some parents of children with severe and complex additional needs who we spoke to used very little or no formal childcare, instead becoming full time carers themselves and/or relying on Direct Payments to employ care workers in the home. Use of childcare was also low among parents of autistic children we spoke to who felt that childcare settings are generally not appropriate for their children whose needs are distinct from those of other disabled children. Many felt that childcare opportunities are not equal among parents, with some having access to places that other parents have not.
- Daycare Trust -
Out of school childcare survey
As the leading national champion of out of school provision 4Children has been closely monitoring the impact of budget cuts and shifting policy priorities. In addition, we were concerned that the pressures on parents caused by the changing economic climate, struggles with increasing unemployment, changing working patterns and stretched household finances may be adversely affecting childcare providers. To ensure we had a full picture from the frontline we decided to undertake a national survey of childcare providers.
- 4Children -
The price parents pay — sharing the costs of childcare (2001)
The Governmentâ??s National Childcare Strategy, launched in May 1998, presented an opportunity for more children and parents to access quality, affordable childcare services in the UK than ever before. Now, three years on, childcare is high up the political agenda but British parents continue to pick up most of the childcare bill despite the substantial sums of Government money being spent on childcare. The availability and cost of formal childcare have grown in importance in recent decades as increasing numbers of mothers return to paid employment rather than undertake full time care of their children. In 2001, almost 58% of mothers with children under five are in work2. A recent MORI survey found that 75% of parents say that working parents do not have enough childcare and two thirds believe that more affordable childcare is essential to help mothers return to work3.
- Daycare Trust -
The UK at the Crossroads
This paper argues we need now to review a number of critical issues, for example about — the age range of early childhood, staffing, funding, entitlement, types of provision and providers, the balance between prescription and diversity, our image of the child. It also argues that being a member of a European community, with so many partners, provides a resource to assist with addressing these issues and to help us to think about and decide our future direction.
Peter Moss — Daycare Trust -
