Childcare Counts

Seventy-six per cent of the parents responding to the survey were using, or had used, some form of childcare for at least one of their children.

You said we need to develop more affordable out of school and holiday provision.  You also think there aren't enough safe play places or activities for older children.  Sixty-two per cent of you would like to use an after school club for children aged 9-14.

You said it was difficult to find a suitable childcare place for a child with special needs or disability particularly as the child grew older.

You said you needed clearer information about help wth meeting the costs of childcare.  (Cost is often the main barrier to accessing childcare for some of you.)

Nineteen per cent of you would like more employer support around work-life balance issues.  Fourteen per cent of you said childcare issues had caused you problems at work in the last year.

Twenty-eight per cent of parents who responded to the survey were using family and friends to meet their childcare needs.

The vast majority of you were 'satisfied' or 'very satisfied' with the fees, opening hours, location and quality of your childcare providers.

Your top three sources of information to help support you as parents are

An increasing number of you need childcare before 8.00 am, after 6.00 pm, and at the weekend.

When using childcare, the top three factors you consider are

A significant number of you thought that childcare settings should be inspected more regularly and the grades publicised more widely.

Many of you said there isn't always enough support for you in your role as a parent.