Here I present an analysis of New Labour’s Green Paper on childcare: Meeting the Childcare Challenge (published in 1998) and the Coalition’s More Affordable Childcare, with reference to More Great Childcare as well. I consider how the documents frame the role of childcare and whether there is really anything different about the childcare policy proposals of today to those of 1998.
When Meeting the Childcare Challenge was published it was regarded as something of a breakthrough. Developments in childcare policy had been limited during the 1990s and even more limited prior to that. For many it was a sign that finally childcare was being placed on the policy agenda and whilst not all of the developments that have taken place since have been warmly welcomed, I still feel that it is good to see politicians taking an interest in childcare.
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