Access and affordability: achieving maximum impact from childcare spending Kate Stanley Institute for Public Policy Research

The project Aim: short term intervention to highlight strategic problems and encourage policy realignment to boost affordability and accessibility of childcare Interviews with key stakeholders, site visits, seminar, reviewing evidence Pamphlet to be published in April/May Follow-up on quality

Childcare policy Vision: “All families who need provision will gave access to an affordable, flexible, high quality childcare place that meets their particular needs”

Childcare policy Key access measures 1998 – 1 st childcare strategy to increase places 2004 – 1 st 10 year strategy creating more places, “new frontier of the welfare state” 2005 – 1 st childcare bill, places legal duty on LAs to ensure there is sufficient childcare in their area to meet the needs of working families & families with disabled children

Childcare policy Key affordability measures Childcare tax credit Childcare vouchers via employers Universal offer LDA supply-side pilot

The problem The children and families who stand to benefit most from high quality childcare have limited opportunities to access it Cause: high cost & provision inappropriate or inaccessible for certain groups Consequence: failure to make social justice and economic gains; poor value from public spending

Affordability Supply has substantially increased in recent years but places are empty because not affordable Av cost £142 a wk: Av earnings £431 wk Weaknesses: level, eligibility & take up, regional variations, admin Myth of parental control?

Accessibility Disabled children Cost, appropriate provision Children from certain BME groups Information, circumstances, preferences

Solutions? Balance demand side interventions with supply side measures Promote the development of different forms of childcare and incentivise accessible provision