The report, Opportunity for Childcare?, by Save the Children development officer Elaine Johnston and Simon Rahilly from Liverpool John Moores University, looked at parents' and providers' concerns relating to childcare in two contrasting areas of Liverpool.
The report said, 'Some parents highlighted the need to work, for increased income and for affordable childcare. Others emphasised issues such as the quality of the care, often expressing reluctance to have anyone outside their family providing childcare. Arguably, Government policies and initiatives need to support a range of possible forms of childcare provision to enable parents to have genuine choices.'
Parents said they wanted more information and reassurance about the quality of provision, which was a critical factor in choosing childcare arrangements. Those with children in formal childcare tended to say they were satisfied with the quality of provision. One said, 'I want my child to be happy and secure. That's the main issue.'
Several parents said they had decided not to work. One mother said she regarded juggling work and childcare as too stressful. 'There's no chance of me working with the children being little and my husband working long hours. Issues of childcare seem to add more stress to life.'
Some parents blamed a lack of affordable childcare for stopping them from working. One said, 'You would need good enough wages to pay for childcare. I have seen friends who have taken work and then ended up in debt.'
While parents expressed positive views about the Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC), they were concerned about it being paid with their wages. Some perceived a difficulty in changing jobs while they received the credit, and others complained that the WFTC took no account of their travel costs and mortgage payments. The report suggested WFTC should be extended to cover the cost of informal childcarers, such as family members.
Daycare providers reported a positive impact from WFTC, with places being filled by children whose parents might not otherwise have been able to afford the fees. But providers felt strongly that diversity was being threatened by the pressure to fill local authority nursery places and it was suggested that an audit of demand was necessary to match the supply of provision.
The providers also highlighted the problem of retaining experienced, qualified workers while wages remained low. They acknowledged the tension between paying staff more and keeping childcare costs affordable to parents.