A report examined how successful local authorities felt that they had been in securing the sustainability of childcare places in disadvantaged areas, and whether more support was needed for local authorities. Sustainable childcare provision in disadvantaged areas needed to be publicly funded in one form or another. In those areas where a free market model of childcare operated, there were enough childcare places to meet parental demand: but these places were threatened by the financially difficult situations many of the providers felt that they were in.
Source: Sarah Dickens, Ivonne Wollny, and Eleanor Ireland, Childcare Sufficiency and Sustainability in Disadvantaged Areas, Research Report 246, Department for Education
Date: 2012-Dec
A new book examined the allocation of the costs of childcare in European countries, and how political choices about childcare had different impacts on equality of opportunity. Greater choice was required in order to reduce the existing tendency to discriminate against mothers.
Source: David Mayes and Mark Thomson (eds), The Costs of Children: Parenting and democracy in contemporary Europe, Edward Elgar Publishing
Links: Summary
Date: 2012-Dec
A think-tank report said that the cost of childcare was just under 30 per cent of household income after housing costs, compared with just over one-fifth before housing costs (for a family on 150 per cent of the average wage, with 2 children under age 5 in full-time childcare).
Source: Vidhya Alakeson and Alex Hurrell, The Costs of Childcare after Housing Costs, Resolution Foundation
Links: Report
Date: 2012-Dec
A report examined perceptions of men working in childcare. Nursery workers believed that men were being dissuaded from pursuing careers in childcare because they feared that they might be perceived as being a paedophile. They also thought that male applicants would not be comfortable working in a predominantly female environment. Low pay was seen as an additional deterrent.
Source: June O'Sullivan and Sue Chambers, Men Working in Childcare: Does it Matter to Children? What Do they Say?, London Early Years Foundation
Links: Report | LEYF press release
Date: 2012-Nov
A special issue of a journal examined early childhood education and care in Europe.
Source: European Journal of Education, Volume 47 Issue 4
Links: Table of contents
Notes: Articles included:
• Peter Moss, 'Caring and learning together: exploring the relationship between parental leave and early childhood education and care'
• Mathias Urban, 'Researching early childhood policy and practice. a critical ecology'
• Mathias Urban, Michel Vandenbroeck, Katrien Van Laere, Arianna Lazzari, and Jan Peeters, 'Towards competent systems in early childhood education and care. implications for policy and practice'
Katrien Van Laere, Jan Peeters, and Michel Vandenbroeck, 'The education and care divide: the role of the early childhood workforce in 15 European countries'
• Maria Herczog, 'Rights of the child and early childhood education and care in Europe'
Date: 2012-Nov
A think-tank report said that childcare in the United Kingdom was more expensive and more variable in quality than in many other European countries. But it disputed the argument (advanced by Elizabeth Truss MP, Education and Childcare Minister) that the answer lay in deregulating the childcare market, as had happened in the Netherlands. The outcomes of the Dutch reforms had not been universally positive. Reducing regulation of childminders (by loosening child-to-adult ratios or ending individual registration and inspection) would undermine quality and parental trust. Policy-makers should instead examined the Danish childcare system, which: offered a universal national entitlement to childcare; prioritized spending on services over spending on benefits; fostered a high-quality workforce; decentralized governance; and maintained relatively generous parental leave and workplace flexibility.
Source: Graeme Cooke and Kathleen Henehan, Double Dutch: The case against deregulation and demand-led funding in childcare, Institute for Public Policy Research
Links: Report | Fabian Society blog post | Labour Party press release | Telegraph report
Date: 2012-Oct
A think-tank report said that high childcare costs meant that having a full-time job was no longer worthwhile for many second earners in families on middle and low incomes. A second earner working full-time at the minimum wage in a family where her partner was already working full-time at the same wage, would be left with just £211 (£4 per week) from her annual wage of £11,900 – after deducting the costs of caring for two children, and the loss of tax credits as the family's income rose.
Source: Vidhya Alakeson and Alex Hurrell, Counting the Costs of Childcare, Resolution Foundation
Links: Report | Resolution press release | BBC report | Guardian report | Telegraph report
Date: 2012-Oct
A think-tank report said that the coalition government's efforts to 'make work pay' for those on low incomes could be undermined by the high cost of childcare. It called on the government to lead a 'supply-side revolution' in childcare provision, and made recommendations designed to improve the affordability and flexibility of childcare, help families find work in ways and at times that kept childcare costs low, and support parents to find the economic balance between employment and childcare.
Source: Deven Ghelani (with Harriet Crawford), Transforming Childcare, Changing Lives: Making sure that work pays – How to maximise universal credit by reforming childcare, Centre for Social Justice
Links: Report | Nursery World report | Telegraph report
Date: 2012-Oct
A report said that 100,000 of the poorest working families would be hit hardest when new arrangements for childcare costs came into effect under the proposed universal credit system. These families would lose £23 per week in help with childcare costs, and could lose up to £4,000 per year. This would leave them having to pay as much as seven times more than they did under the existing system. The report called for universal credit to cover 80 per cent of low-income families' childcare costs rather than the planned 70 per cent.
Source: The Parent Trap: Childcare cuts under universal credit, Children's Society
Links: Report | Childrens Society press release
Date: 2012-Sep
A paper examined the link between welfare provision in European countries and the use of grandparents resources by working mothers.
Source: Valeria Bordone, Bruno Arpino, and Arnstein Aassve, Policy Perspectives of Grandparenting in Europe, Working Paper 51, Dondena Research Centre (Bocconi University, Milan)
Links: Paper
Date: 2012-Aug
A paper used three data reduction methods on a sample of households from the Millennium Cohort Study to derive two quantitative measures of paternal involvement in childcare and housework.
Source: Helen Norman and Mark Elliot, Measuring Paternal Involvement in Childcare: A critical analysis of three data reduction methods, Working Paper 2012-05, Centre for Census and Survey Research (University of Manchester)
Links: Paper
Date: 2012-Aug
A report examined the use and profile of babysitters. It looked at the experiences of young babysitters, parents' satisfaction, and child safety and welfare issues.
Source: Jill Rutter and Ben Evans, Young Babysitters in Britain, Daycare Trust
Links: Report | Daycare Trust press release
Date: 2012-Aug
An article said that European mothers' reliance on grandparental childcare was influenced by individual characteristics and the supply of formal childcare: but also by the normative climate in the region where they lived. Irrespective of the attitudes individually held, mothers in more 'conservative' regions were more inclined to use grandparents as the main source of childcare instead of formal alternatives.
Source: Maaike Jappens and Jan Van Bavel, 'Regional family norms and child care by grandparents in Europe', Demographic Research, Volume 27
Date: 2012-Jul
An article examined the dramatic fall in fertility rates in western Europe during the previous 50 years. As well as considering socio-political conditions and structural explanations, it was important to understand what was happening to interpersonal relationships within the couple. One aspect that had not been fully explored was the perceived justice of the division of childcare after the birth of the first child, and its impact on the decision to have a second child.
Source: Claudia Andrade and Sally Bould, 'Child-care burden and intentions to have a second child: effects of perceived justice in the division of child-care', International Review of Sociology, Volume 22 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Jul
An article examined how employment hours influenced childcare time in European countries. Childcare hours were lowest in countries with relatively high parental employment rates but also short work-hour cultures. Employment associations with childcare were mediated not only by gendered work-hour cultures but also culturally distinct parenting ideologies.
Source: Liana Sayer and Janet Gornick, 'Cross-national variation in the influence of employment hours on child care time', European Sociological Review, Volume 28 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Jul
An article examined research into 'quality' in the early years. Practitioners' understandings of quality were influenced by government discourses, but appeared to be linked to the context of their setting together with their personal and professional histories.
Source: Michelle Cottle and Elise Alexander, 'Quality in early years settings: government, research and practitioners perspectives', British Educational Research Journal, Volume 38 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Jul
The coalition government's new childcare commission called for evidence and ideas on how to make childcare more affordable for working families and reduce any unnecessary burdens on providers.
Source: Commission on Childcare: Call for Evidence, Department for Education/Department for Work and Pensions
Links: Call for evidence | DE press release | DWP press release | Commission terms of reference | Daycare Trust press release | 4Children press release | Gingerbread press release | Labour Party press release | NDNA press release | NUT press release | Guardian report | Nursery World report
Date: 2012-Jul
A paper examined the effects of universal pre-school education and care (PSEC) on reading performance scores and educational inequalities in the United Kingdom and Sweden. All social groups benefited from universalizing PSEC, with the lowest groups getting the highest additional benefits. The international rankings of both Sweden and the UK improved after universalization. Universalizing PSEC was therefore be an effective policy instrument that boosted educational performances while reducing inequalities in their distribution.
Source: Tarek Mostafa and Andy Green, Measuring the Impact of Universal Pre-School Education and Care on Literacy Performance Scores, LLAKES Research Paper 36, Centre for Learning and Life Chances in Knowledge Economies and Societies
Links: Paper
Date: 2012-Jul
A paper examined the link between welfare provision and use of grandparents resources for working mothers in Europe. A 'clear association' was found between the policy context of the country of residence and (daily) grandparenting.
Source: Valeria Bordone, Bruno Arpino, and Arnstein Aassve, Policy Perspectives of Grandparenting in Europe, Working Paper 51, Carlo F Dondena Centre for Research on Social Dynamics (Universita Bocconi, Milan)
Links: Paper
Date: 2012-Jul
A survey of kinship carers found that more than 8 in 10 of those who had given up work when children moved in said that they would have liked to have stayed in work; and that 4 in 10 of those who had given up work were now dependent on welfare benefits as their main source of income.
Source: Agnes Gautier and Sarah Wellard, Giving Up the Day Job? Kinship carers and employment, Grandparents Plus
Links: Report | Grandparents Plus press release | Family Lives press release | Nursery World report
Date: 2012-Jun
The final report was published of an independent government-commissioned review (led by Cathy Nutbrown) of early education and childcare qualifications. It set out 19 recommendations designed to improve the quality of the early years sector and ensure that all young children received a high standard of care and education. The recommendations included improving qualifications to make them more rigorous and demanding, with a stronger focus on child development.
Source: Foundations for Quality: The independent review of early education and childcare qualifications – Final report, Department for Education
Links: Report | Hansard | DE press release | ATL press release | Daycare Trust press release | 4Children press release | NCB press release | NCMA press release | NDNA press release | NUT press release | Sheffield University press release | Nursery World report
Date: 2012-Jun
A new book examined market-based childcare in a range of advanced countries (including the United Kingdom). The rights of the child implied equal access to provision for all young children: but this was highly problematic, as parents paid for what they could afford, and parental income inequalities persisted or widened.
Source: Eva Lloyd and Helen Penn (eds.), Childcare Markets: Can they deliver an equitable service?, Policy Press
Links: Summary
Date: 2012-Jun
The government began consultation on how the nursery milk scheme operated. It said that 'modernizing' the scheme could save up to £20 million each year, by encouraging childcare providers to seek better value for money.
Source: Next Steps for Nursery Milk? Consultation document, Department of Health
Links: Consultation document | Impact assessment | Equality impact assessment | Hansard | DH press release | Labour Party press release | BBC report | Guardian report | Nursery World report | Telegraph report
Date: 2012-Jun
The coalition government announced (following consultation) the early roll-out of free pre-school care in England for children aged 2 – in 10 trial areas from September 2012. In addition the times within which parents could bring in their children for their free place would be extended by two hours.
Source: Press release 30 May 2012, Department for Education
Links: DE press release | Liberal Democrats press release | Daycare Trust press release | Labour Party press release | NDNA press release | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2012-May
A think-tank report (written by a Conservative MP) said that the childcare system needed to deliver better value for money. The government spent more on pre-school support than the governments of some other European countries: but childcare costs for British families were among the highest, and supply was failing to keep up with demand. The report recommended the adoption of an agency structure similar to the childminder or 'host parent' agencies found in the Netherlands. An accompanying measure would be to allow nurseries and children's centres to apply for academy status so that they were 'free' from local authority control. A structure based on academies and agencies, regulated through Ofsted, would lead to an increase in availability of flexible childcare and an end to spiralling costs.
Source: Elizabeth Truss MP, Affordable Quality: New Approaches to Childcare, CentreForum
Links: Report | CentreForum press release | Daycare Trust press release | Family Lives press release | 4Children press release | Labour Party press release | NDNA press release | BBC report | Guardian report | Public Finance report
Date: 2012-May
A report examined the provision of 'wraparound' childcare in primary schools in Northern Ireland.
Source: Sarah Lowndes and Rachel Dennison, Wraparound Childcare in Primary Schools: Consulting primary schools on the provision of wraparound services, Employers For Childcare
Date: 2012-May
A report examined the financial profile of providers offering childcare in England. It said that average earnings did not appear to be excessive, being (at best) broadly in line with median earnings. For settings based in the 30 per cent most deprived areas, only 51 per cent made a profit or surplus – compared with 66 per cent of settings in the 70 per cent least deprived areas.
Source: Richard Brind, Oliver Norden, and Dan Oseman, Childcare Provider Finances Survey, Research Report RR213, Department for Education
Links: Report | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2012-May
An interim report by an all-party group of MPs said that the point of greatest leverage for social mobility was what happened between ages 0 and 3, primarily in the home. It was also possible to improve social mobility through education – the most important controllable factor being the quality of teaching received. University was the top determinant of later opportunities – so pre-18 attainment was key. But later pathways to mobility were possible, 'given the will and support'.
Source: 7 Key Truths About Social Mobility: Interim report, All-Party Parliamentary Group on Social Mobility
Links: Report | Guardian report | Nursery World report | Telegraph report
Date: 2012-May
A report said that urgent action was needed to help parents with the rising cost of childcare. It called on the government to review and simplify all childcare funding, and to introduce an 'oyster card' and more support for parents to pay for childcare.
Source: Denise Burke, The Childcare Funding Crisis: It s decision time on tackling the high cost of childcare, United for All Ages
Links: Report | UAA press release
Date: 2012-May
A report said that early childhood education and care were receiving increased policy interest in England, as improving quality in the sector was a subject of growing importance. Co-operation between the sector, parents, and the community could contribute to providing a more continuous child development process. Parental and community engagement could also strengthen the quality of parenting and the home-learning environment. Additionally, it could enhance children's early development and mitigate the negative effects of family background. The continuity of children's experiences across different environments was greatly enhanced when early childhood education and care centres co-operated with parents and communities and adopted consistent approaches to child development and learning.
Source: Miho Taguma, Ineke Litjens, and Kelly Makowiecki, Quality Matters in Early Childhood Education and Care: United Kingdom (England) 2012, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Links: Report
Date: 2012-Apr
An article examined patterns of public support related to childcare costs for low-income working families in industrialized countries. It identified four types of policy strategies ('conservative', 'limited', 'average', and 'universal'), suggesting differentiated social citizenship opportunities based on place of residence. It highlighted how a complex policy environment contributed to unintended consequences, as the 'working poor' were exposed to childcare and employment instability. Future research should consider how the policy environment contributed to material well-being in families during the life course.
Source: Lucy Porter Jordan, 'Examining cost fulfilment: child care policy and strategies', Journal of Social Service Research, Volume 38 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Apr
A study found that a large number of families continued to use informal childcare, usually by grandparents, to meet their childcare needs. Families often used informal care as part of a 'package' that included both formal and informal care, particularly for pre-school children. It was more likely than formal care to be used to cover non-standard work or study hours, and was used by families across the socio-economic spectrum and for children of all ages. There were no significant advantages or disadvantages to children's educational or socio-emotional outcomes as a result of being looked after by informal carers.
Source: Caroline Bryson, Mike Brewer, Luke Sibieta, and Sarah Butt, The Role of Informal Childcare: A synthesis and critical review of the evidence, Nuffield Foundation
Links: Report | Summary | Nuffield Foundation press release | Telegraph report
Date: 2012-Mar
The interim report was published of an independent review that was exploring how to strengthen qualifications and career pathways for people working in early education and childcare.
Source: Cathy Nutbrown, Review of Early Education and Childcare Qualifications: Interim Report, Department for Education
Links: Report | DE press release | NAHT press release | NCB press release | BBC report | Guardian report | Nursery World report
Date: 2012-Mar
A study compared different quality measures used in England to identify and improve the quality of early years provision. Gradings issued by Ofsted (the official inspectorate) were found to be too broad to provide a detailed measure of quality, and were best used alongside other measures. Some settings judged as 'outstanding' or 'good' by Ofsted were rated as lower quality on alternative rating scales.
Source: Sandra Mathers, Rosanna Singler, and Arjette Karemaker, Improving Quality in the Early Years: A comparison of perspectives and measures, Daycare Trust/University of Oxford/A+ Education Ltd
Links: Report | Summary | Daycare Trust press release | Nuffield Foundation press release | Nursery World report
Date: 2012-Mar
A paper examined whether and how predictors of fathers' participation in childcare differed from predictors of participating fathers' amount of time on childcare, drawing on data from 10 industrialised countries (including the UK) from 1987 to 2005.
Source: Nora Reich, Fathers Childcare: The difference between participation and amount of time, Research Paper 116, Hamburg Institute of International Economics
Links: Paper
Date: 2012-Feb
A think-tank report said that high-quality formal childcare remained unaffordable for many families, and that this situation was set to worsen in the years ahead. It proposed an entirely new policy – a 'national childcare contribution scheme' – to help parents manage the high costs of childcare over a number of years. Parents would be able to access financial support of up to £10,000 from the government to pay for childcare, which they would then pay back as monthly contributions made through the tax system.
Source: Ryan Shorthouse, Jeff Masters, and Ian Mulheirn, A Better Beginning: Easing the cost of childcare, Social Market Foundation
Links: Report | SMF press release | Daycare Trust press release | NDNA press release | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2012-Feb
A paper examined how national parental leave arrangements related to fathers' participation in and time used for childcare, based on evidence for western European countries (and Canada). Duration of parental leave was found to have a positive impact on fathers' childcare participation.
Source: Nora Reich, Christina Boll, and Julian Sebastian Leppin, Fathers' Childcare and Parental Leave Policies: Evidence from western European countries and Canada, Research Paper 115, Hamburg Institute of International Economics
Links: Paper
Date: 2012-Feb