www.Grub4Life.com today reports that only 1/5 of local authorities are confident that there is enough holiday childcare in their area, compared with 1/3 of those questioned last year, research by the Daycare Trust has revealed.
24-07-2010
The 2010 Holiday Childcare Costs survey found a postcode lottery and patchwork of childcare availability in Britain. While the average cost of a week's holiday care had risen by 3% since last year to £93, the costs varied from £119.32 for private and voluntary sector provision in the East of England region, compared with just £58.89 for local authority-provided schemes in Wales.
The research is based on data provided by 132 Family Information Services in England and Wales and Childcare Information Services in Scotland.
63% of Family Information Services had received reports from parents about a lack of holiday childcare, compared with 46% from last year. In the south-east, 88% of Family Information Services had received reports of a shortage, compared with just 29% in Scotland.
The survey recommends:
1. Holiday playschemes be protected from local authority cuts
2. Government should provide more investment to ensure holiday childcare is more flexible and affordable
3. Government increase the proportion of childcare costs paid through tax credits to 100%
Alison Garnham, chief executive of Daycare Trust, said, 'We are hugely concerned by the gaping hole in the provision of childcare across the country. The situation continues to get worse with the impact of local authority spending cuts, which we see are already attacking holiday childcare provision. The recent changes to tax credits mean that many working parents will in future receive less help with childcare costs. This is a seriously bad move and means more help is needed to make childcare more affordable.'
Source and thanks to www.nurseryworld.co.uk.
