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NEWS: Government publishes parents' survey on childcare and early years provision in England

PACEY

19 December 2019

The Department for Education has released the childcare and early years survey for parents 2019 detailing the findings from the January 2019 to August 2019 survey.

Key findings include:

Use of formal childcare broadly stable over time

  • 76% of children in England aged 0 to 4 had used some form of childcare during their most recent term-time week, equating to 1.9 million children.
  • Formal childcare used by 64% of children, in line with 62% in 2018.

Ease of meeting childcare costs broadly stable over time

  • 46%, just under half of parents who paid for childcare said it was easy or very easy to meet their childcare costs. This is in line with 45% in 2018.
  • 27% found it difficult or very difficult to meet childcare costs, rising from 23% in 2018 but lower than 2011-12 when 33% of parents found it difficult to meet their childcare costs.

Reliable childcare is reported by mothers to help them make work choices

  • 62% of mothers with children aged 0 to 4 were in work in 2019, in line with 61% in 2018.
  • Around seven in 10 (69%) working mothers said that having reliable childcare helped them go out to work, a rise from 63% in 2018.

Other findings include:

  • 81% of parents with children aged 0 to 4 were aware of the 30 hours funding.
  • 73% of parents rated the overall quality of local childcare provision as very or fairly good.

Read the full findings here.

PACEY Chief Executive Liz Bayram comments: 

“With 64% of parents who responded reliant on high quality childcare and for this to continue, government must ensure the cost of delivering an early education place is covered by the fee they give providers. Too many childcare providers currently are struggling to remain sustainable. Furthermore, whilst it is good to see that parents are aware of some government funding, we know there are still families who do not receive the information and guidance they need to make informed childcare choices. Local authorities and health visitors are key in helping to grow parental understanding and government needs to invest in a public information campaign that helps parents understand the importance of early education and the different providers offering this.”