Opinion

The childcare market isn't working

Stephen Burke says that there is a looming crisis for the childcare market as new initiatives roll out

On the face of it, the annual survey of childcare costs published recently by the Family and Childcare Trust presented good news for both parents and the Government. There were no shock headlines about rocketing childcare bills as the survey revealed that the cost of childcare to parents has stabilised in the last year.

But dig deeper and there are some very worrying signs for the childcare market as the Government prepares to roll out two major initiatives.

The survey highlighted that, in many parts of the country, parents with children aged three and four are finding it harder to find the free childcare places they are entitled to.

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