Poole Childcare Survey Results 2007

Overall levels of satisfaction with current childcare arrangements are good

Parents overall satisfaction with current childcare arrangements in Poole (respondents stating they were very or fairly satisfied) was relatively high, both for Formal Users 81% and for Informal Users 75%.

Need to reduce inequalities in formal childcare use across the Borough

Formal childcare use in Poole (40% among respondents to the survey) is lower than national levels, and some areas of the Borough have disproportionate levels of non-user households. These are concentrated within the wards of Alderney, Merley and Bearwood, and Canford Heath East. Areas within Alderney and Canford Heath East are also among the most deprived areas in Poole and fall within the most deprived quartile of areas nationally, according to the Indices of Multiple Deprivation 2007. In the Children and Young People’s Needs Analysis for Poole for 2006/07, Alderney also had the highest proportions of vulnerable children in Poole.

Make the cost of childcare less of a deterrent

A key concern of parents in the childcare survey was the cost and affordability of childcare, particularly for lower income groups. 80% of households, who did not use formal childcare because it was ‘too expensive’, earnt less than £35,000. Qualitative evidence suggests that cost is a barrier to parents returning to work. Hotspot areas of cost concerns were along the borders of Alderney and Newtown wards, and for the age cohort of children aged 2 and under.

Make information on entitlements more accessible to raise awareness

Awareness of the free entitlement to childcare for 3 and 4 year olds, among parents with children aged 0-4 years, was significantly lower among BME groups and in hotspot areas within Alderney, Poole Town and Branksome East wards. Alderney also has high levels of non-use and concerns on cost, and Poole Town and Branksome East had the highest proportions of BME households in the survey.

Increase affordable provision in the school holidays, with good information from a single source

There was an overwhelming response for more childcare to be provided in the school holidays. 88% of respondents worked in the school holidays and 37% of formal childcare users requested additional provision in the holidays. Hotspot areas for unmet demand for care in the holidays were within Broadstone, Oakdale, Parkstone, Penn Hill and Poole Town. The number of requests were highest for the 5-7 and 8-10 age cohorts. Qualitative analysis of parents comments also revealed the need for good information on holiday provision available from a single source.

Increase appropriate provision for older children, particularly for the 11 to 14 age cohort

There is a significant difference in levels of satisfaction with childcare, between age cohorts of children.  Dissatisfaction was highest among 8 to 10, and 11 to 14 year olds (both 9%). From the analysis of comments made by parents, it is the lack of suitable childcare provision for these older children, particularly 11+ year olds that is a key concern.

Increase childcare places that cater for the individual needs of children with a disability

Overall, 134 (5%) children in the survey were defined, by their parents or carers, as having a disability and/or SEN. Level of childcare use does appear to vary with level of disability and/or SEN. Children with a disability and/ or SEN are more likely to be Informal Childcare users and less likely to be Formal Childcare users. Comments made by parents of children with a disability or SEN support these figures. They reflect a general concern about the lack of childcare that can cater for the specific needs of their child.

Encourage settings to improve the flexibility of hours of operation

Finding flexible childcare that is available at the right times, or on demand, is a difficulty many parents face in Poole. Lack of emergency or ad hoc provision is a particular frustration.

4% of parents that do not use formal childcare in Poole choose not to due to ‘childcare not fitting around their working hours’. 21% of formal childcare users disagreed that their ‘childcare accommodates changes to my working hours’. 16% disagreed that ‘my childcare is flexible if I am late’.

Availability and flexibility of childcare was a key issue in Alderney, Hamworthy East and West and Canford Cliffs wards. These wards also had the highest proportions of parents working shifts and a strong link was found between shift working and the requirement for more flexible childcare.

Provide the right information on childcare to parents, when they want it, and how they want it

Low levels of respondents to the Childcare Survey in Poole, felt that information on childcare was sufficient, easy to find, and useful. Childcare information in Poole is predominantly acquired though ‘word of mouth’ from family and friends. Parents of children aged 2 and under, were more likely to feel there was insufficient information on childcare, and Hamworthy East, and Merley and Bearwood stood out as having issues with childcare information provision.

Parents made a number of useful suggestions about how information provision could be improved in Poole, which are summarized in the body of this report.

Additional focus group work will be carried out to further inform the detail of the strategy to deliver sufficient childcare. It is recommended that this should focus on the issues raised above.