Nursery World - Out-of-hours care needs go unfilled

Growing demand by parents for childcare outside traditonal weekday 'nine to five' hours is not being met by care providers, claims a report for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. The report, Around the clock: Childcare services at atypical times, by Ann Mooney and June Statham at the Thomas Coram Research Unit, found that childcare services are generally failing to follow parents who have to work weekends or on shifts as Britain moves to a more service-based economy.

The report, Around the clock: Childcare services at atypical times, by Ann Mooney and June Statham at the Thomas Coram Research Unit, found that childcare services are generally failing to follow parents who have to work weekends or on shifts as Britain moves to a more service-based economy.

All 150 Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships in England were surveyed for the report and although nearly all acknowledged the need for childcare 'at atypical times', fewer than a third had tried to develop such provision.

The report identified some helpful initiatives such as a community nanny scheme, weekend care at a children's centre in hospital grounds and a childminding network to meet the needs of police employees. It noted, 'It is very difficult for atypical hours services to be financially viable in the short term without some form of additional funding. Development of such services is more likely to take place with significant backing from employers, as has occurred with some NHS Trusts.'

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