Scottish Government

DTZ, in conjunction with Research Resource and Dudleston Harkins Social Research, was commissioned to undertake research into Parents' Access to and Demand for Childcare Survey ( PADCS) (2006) on behalf of the Scottish Executive Education Department, Children, Young People and Social Care Group. The overarching aim of this research was to provide a detailed assessment of issues relating to parents' perceptions of access to, and demand for, childcare and to compare and contrast these, where possible, with the results of the 2000 and 2004 surveys.

A mixed methodological approach was used involving 1,304 face-to-face quantitative interviews and 60 face-to-face qualitative interviews. The Scottish Household Survey ( SHS) dataset was used as the sample frame for the survey. The survey consulted parents of children aged up to 14 years.

Main Findings

• 42% of parents interviewed use childcare in a typical week, rising to 49% when occasional use is also considered.
• Just under half of respondents (43%), who have regular provision patterns, use no more than 10 hours of childcare in a typical week, across all providers.
• Childcare use varies by the age of the child, with the highest levels of use for younger children, with these levels dropping off as children get older, giving a relatively low average childcare use for the whole study sample.
• Trust is by far the most important factor in the childcare decision. More than half (54%) of respondents placed it in the top three of the factors they considered.
• Cost is also an important factor, especially for low income households and those with more than two children. Households on lower incomes (less than £221 per week) tend to spend less on childcare. Location, while rarely the first consideration, is an important secondary factor.
• A family member is the ideal provider for 28% of respondents. Out of School Clubs, childminders and nursery/crèche are the most commonly preferred type of formal provision.
• When information on childcare provision is needed, the most common source is word of mouth, but many parents draw on more than one source. The Childcare Information Service has been used by only 2% of respondents in the last year.
• Approximately 2 in 5 respondents did not feel they had a real choice in their decision on whether to work. Childcare was a factor for 56% of these respondents.
• Most respondents say that they are happy with their decisions both on whether to work (88%) and whether to train or study (89%).
• Around half (51%) of those using childcare do no pay anything for it. Economically inactive parents are more likely to receive free childcare than those in employment.
• Over a third (36%) of single parent families claim that the childcare benefits they receive are vital to their ability to access childcare.

Background

DTZ, in conjunction with Research Resource and Dudleston Harkins Social Research, was commissioned to undertake research into Parents' Access to and Demand for Childcare Survey (2006) on behalf of the Scottish Executive Education Department, Children, Young People and Social Care Group. The overarching aim of this research was to provide a detailed assessment of issues relating to parents' perceptions of access to and demand for childcare and to compare and contrast these, where possible, with the results of the 2000 and 2004 surveys

The objectives for this study were as follows.

• To establish the current levels of use of childcare by parents of children aged 0-14 years-old (to be broken down by specific age ranges: 0-3, 4-5, 6-10 and 11-14), in terms of the types and quantities of provision that are used and how they compare with the 2000/04 survey(s).
• To investigate parental motivation in the choice of childcare services and identify any differences among groups of parents.
• To explore the patterns of demand for childcare, looking specifically at when childcare is required and what type is preferred. To identify and explore 'gaps' that parents have encountered in the current provision of childcare and details of barriers.
• To ask parents' opinions about various aspects of their current childcare arrangements, such as their convenience, quality and cost, and what their priorities are in terms of future childcare requirements.
• To assess the financial cost of paid childcare, by type of provision and age range, and assess the impact of government measures to support parents with childcare costs, e.g. child tax credit, childcare vouchers and free pre-school education.
• To ascertain how much parents know about local childcare services, where they source information about childcare providers and where more information is needed. To look specifically at parents' use, and awareness, of local Childcare Information Services.
• To explore real choices that parents have made in deciding to return to work/study and the extent to which childcare availability, accessibility and cost have placed constraints on the type of job and pattern of work they chose.

Method

The study team used two main methods to undertake this study.

• Interviews with 1,304 parents with children in the relevant age category, regardless of whether or not they used childcare. The Scottish Household Survey ( SHS) dataset was used as the sample frame for the survey.
• 60 in-depth interviews with parents recruited from the quantitative survey. Key characteristics of respondents who had agreed to participate in further research were identified from the quantitative data in order to generate a pool of participants across a range of situations and circumstances.

Research Findings

Current Usage and Non-Usage of Childcare

42% of parents interviewed use childcare in a typical week, with this figure rising to 49% when occasional use is also considered.

The most common type of formal provider (for those using childcare on a regular basis) was a nursery (25%). The most common type of informal provider was a family member (35%).

Just under half of respondents (43%) who have regular provision patterns use no more than 10 hours a week of childcare in a typical week, across all providers. Around two-thirds of parents typically use 6-20 hours per week of childcare.

By far the most common providers of pre-school education are nurseries (56%) and nursery classes in schools (21%). The majority of parents accessing pre-school education are using it for the 12.5 hours per week of statutory free provision.

Childcare use varies by the age of the child. The highest levels of use are for younger children, with these levels dropping off as children gets older, giving a relatively low average childcare use for the whole sample.

Reasons for Use of Childcare and Motivating Factors

Trust is by far the most important factor in the childcare decisions. More than half (54%) of respondents placed it in the top 3 of factors they considered.

Cost is also an important factor, especially for low-income households and those with more than two children, with over a third (38%) of all parents placing it in their top 3 considerations. Location, while rarely the first consideration, is an important secondary factor.

In-depth qualitative interviews indicated that the majority of parents spoken to felt that the cost of formal childcare was too high, particularly those with larger families.

Households on lower incomes (less than £221 per week) tend to spend less on childcare.

Childcare Preferences

A family member is the ideal provider for 28% of the sample.

Out of School Clubs, childminders and nursery/crèche are the most commonly preferred type of formal provision.

The majority of parents are satisfied with their childcare arrangements. 3 in 5 said their current provider was their ideal, and three-quarters said that they would not change anything about their arrangements.

Only 15% of all respondents who do not use their ideal arrangements said it was because they cannot afford it.

In a typical week, childcare is most commonly used Monday to Friday. Weekend use forms a small proportion of overall childcare use.

Parents' Opinions and Knowledge of Information Sources and Changes in Childcare Arrangements

Very few parents reported experiencing problems accessing new childcare arrangements when changes are needed.

When information on childcare provision is needed, the most common source is 'word of mouth', but many parents will draw on more than one source.

The Childcare Information Service has been used by only 2% of respondents in the last year.

Gaps in information on childcare for children with Special Education Needs ( SEN) were highlighted by their parents. Specialist bodies appear to serve some conditions better than others, and parents of children with conditions not well represented by voluntary organisations may need additional help and information from local authority social services.

Gaps in Provision and Constraints

Lack of suitable provision was the main problem parents reported in accessing childcare. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of respondents that could not access childcare said this was because they could not find anyone suitable to provide it. Affordability was the next single most important factor, but was cited by significantly fewer of these parents (19%).

Approximately 2 in 5 respondents did not feel they had a real choice in their decision to work/not work. Childcare was a factor for 56% of these respondents.

Most respondents say that they are happy with their decisions both on whether to work (88%) and whether to train or study (89%).

A reduction in working hours in order to provide childcare is more common in two-parent households than in one-parent households.

Costs of Childcare

Around half (51%) of those using childcare do no pay anything for it.

Economically inactive parents are more likely to receive free childcare than those in employment (half compared to one-third).

Over a third (36%) of single parent and non-working (34%) families claim that the childcare benefits they receive are vital to their ability to access childcare.

Conclusions

Around half of all parents do not use childcare at all, neither informal nor formal. Of those using childcare, informal is the most common form of provision, predominantly supplied by grandparents.

In terms of formal provision, nurseries are the most common form of provision. Nurseries and nursery classes in schools are also the most common form of pre-school provision for over three-quarters of parents.

The use of childcare is highly dependent on the age of the child. The majority of parents use childcare for children under 6 years-old, most of which is formal childcare. The overall usage of childcare, and the proportion of this provision that is formal, declines for children of school age.

Predominantly, the most important factor in parents' childcare decisions is trust in their provider. Other factors also matter, such as cost and location, albeit to a much lesser extent. For parents on lower incomes, cost becomes a much more important factor than for parents in higher income groups.

Benefits, such as tax credits and free provision, are especially seen by low income groups and by lone parents as a key factor in accessing childcare.

The majority of parents have stable childcare arrangements, not having to change arrangements unexpectedly. For those who do, a significant minority do not find it difficult to find appropriate provision. Of those who do find it difficult, identifying a suitable provider was the most common difficulty.

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On-line copies

This Research Findings along with a full report which accompanies the summary report can also be downloaded from the Publications section of the Scottish Government website www.scotland.gov.uk .

Both reports are web only.

This document (and other Research Findings and Reports) and information about social research in the Scottish Government may be viewed on the Internet at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/socialresearch

The site carries up-to-date information about social and policy research commissioned and published on behalf of the Scottish Government. Subjects covered include transport, housing, social inclusion, rural affairs, children and young people, education, social work, community care, local government, civil justice, crime and criminal justice, regeneration, planning and women's issues. The site also allows access to information about the Scottish Household Survey.