Jigsaw Day Nurseries commissioned the study after a report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, The Pivot Generation: Informal care and work after fifty, found that fewer grandparents were available to care for grandchildren (see page 25).
The number of working mothers with children aged under five years old continues to grow, having doubled in the past 20 years from 29 per cent to 58 per cent. The nursery chain found that the majority of parents (92 per cent) requiring formal childcare look at nurseries, while 52 per cent also consider childminders and 20 per cent investigate employing a nanny.
Parents who chose nursery provision over other forms of childcare said that they believed their child would be safer, have more social interaction and have greater opportunities to learn and develop essential skills.
The majority of parents tend to start looking for childcare during pregnancy (50 per cent), while 20 per cent wait until three to six months after their child's birth. Recommendations from friends, relatives and colleagues was stated as the most important source of information when seeking childcare.
Josie Jordan, Jigsaw director of marketing and sales, said, 'These results don't entirely surprise us. We know from talking to Jigsaw parents that if they are unable to leave their children with a member of family, then a safe environment, social interaction, consistency of care and the opportunity to learn and develop through play are crucial factors when choosing childcare.'
* Although fathers play a range of roles in the family, most still see themselves primarily as a breadwinner, according to research published during Parents' Week by the Equal Opportunities Commission.
Many fathers believe it is important that they spend quality time with their children, but being the main earner still defines the way most look at their role in the family. Women's lower average pay and the high cost of childcare are given as key reasons for one parent, usually the mother, staying at home. One father said, 'Financially it would be illogical for my wife to work. The childcare cost is more than she could earn.'