Published by independent, not-for-profit think tank Onward, the report, ‘First Steps: Fixing Childcare’, acknowledges that providers are ‘struggling to stay open, staff turnover is high and childminder numbers have plummeted.’
It suggests a number of provider-side reforms such as giving childminder agencies cash incentives and reforming business rates.
The think tank lists other problems with the childcare system, including the complexity and costly use of at least eight schemes across different Government departments to subsidise childcare costs, and how parents have little choice about when and how their children are looked after.
Its report is based upon a poll of 1,037 parents with children under five which highlights rising childcare fees, with nearly a third of families saying that childcare is one of their most expensive costs. However, when asked about possible reforms, most were against relaxing childcare ratios as previous research and petitions have shown.
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