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London childcare providers network

The 'London childcare providers network' is funded by London Councils, and coordinated by Daycare Trust, in collaboration with the Pre-school Learning Alliance. The project began on 1 September 2008 and will continue until 31 August 2012.

Survey results quoted in interview with Minister of State for Children and Families! On 6 July 2010 Daycare Trust announced the results of our 2010 London childcare providers survey.  We received almost 300 responses, representing at least 540 providers, including childminders, full daycare, nursery, sessional and out-of-school provision.  A press release was sent to national and London media.  The results have been quoted by Radio 4 during an interview with Sarah Teather, Minister of State for Children and Families, and also in the Evening Standard, The Times, Children and Young People Now and Nursery World.  We have also produced a snapshot of providers success stories, and a powerpoint presentation of the results was given at our 2010 London childcare providers forum.  Over the next few months we hope to produce further documents from the results. Key findings include 70 per cent of providers indicating they feel that the Early Years Foundation Stage has had a positive impact on childcare in general.  Borough network meetings and joint training opportunities are seen as key ways to share practice with other providers.  70 per cent consider their communications with local authorities as very good or good. A big thank you to all those who either circulated or responded to the survey.  Without your contribution we would not have been able to have such impact! London childcare providers forum 2010 On 6 July 2010 Daycare Trust held it second annual London childcare providers forum, the key annual event of the project.  The objectives were to:   Provide an opportunity for London childcare providers to meet and share experiences. Identify top issues, that can influence policy at all levels. Provide updates on key policies. Celebrate and develop best practice. Promote a sustainable pan-London childcare providers network.  Further information about the 2010 forum.

Third Sector London manifesto launched On Wednesday 3 March 2010 Daycare Trust, along with 14 other children's charities in a London Child Policy Forum, launched 'United We Stand: A Voluntary and Community Sector Manifesto for London's Children and Young People'.  It sets out the changes needed to improve the future for London's children and young people. Candidates for the 6 May 2010 local elections were asked to sign up and support key pledges, including: Implementing recession-busting childcare support through: - fee holidays for parents struggling to pay childcare costs - rent freezes for childcare settings where councils are the landlord - creation of specialist taskforces to support parents at risk of losing their childcare place. Increasing childcare places for disabled children, older children, during schools holidays and for parents who work atypical hours - in order to close the childcare gap. Ensuring the views of parents and carers are not only listened to, but proactively sought.   Free workshops and events As part of this London Councils funded project, we are able to organise a number of free workshops and other events for London childcare providers, and those working with providers.    28 September 2010 - Debt Management workshop for childcare providers - details to follow 24 November 2010 - Home Learning workshop - details to follow Daycare Trust also offers an ongoing general programme of training on a variety of topics.  See the list of courses, for further information and cost. Sign up for the London ebulletin To keep updated about the project, including information about events being held, you can sign up for the London ebulletin.  See previous versions of the London ebulletin.  Sign up now.

Briefing sheets and other information gathered through the project

Briefing sheet 01 - 'Out-of-school provision for 5-14 year olds in London'

Read the London childcare providers network response to the Department of Children, Schools and Families consultation on the draft Code of Practice on provision of the free entitlement for 3 and 4 year olds.

See the Top Ten Tips for information outreach to families, identified by our workshop participants from across London.

Read a summary of the London panel session of the Daycare Trust National Conference 2008.   

London childcare – facts and figures 

• 1,455,600 children aged 0-15 years live in London (Key Population and Vital Statistics 2007, Office for National Statistics, April 2009).
• In London, parents pay an average £5,668 a year (for a nursery place for a child under 2 years old for 25 hours per week, Childcare Costs Survey 2010, Daycare Trust).
• 53,800 families in London are claiming childcare element of Working Tax Credit.
• The average weekly award for childcare element is £95.16, the highest amount of all the regions and considerably higher than the average amount claimed in England (£69.76).
• London take-up rate of tax credits in 2007-08 was 76 per cent in London with an estimated 210,000 potential recipients not claiming their entitlement.
• London has 16,903 registered childcare providers offering 202,494 childcare places (March 2010). 
• 3,365 2-year olds in London used their Free Early Education Entitlement (FEEE) place in January-March 2010 (Department for Education, July 2010).

Aims

The aims of the 'London childcare providers network' are that:

• London parents are better informed regarding childcare provision, and supported to access appropriate services.

• Childcare providers:
  • are better supported to ensure quality of their workforce, and to increase their sustainability;
  • are better able to influence strategic plans at borough, subregional and cross-London level; and
  • are supported to improve the home learning parenting environment.
• Equality for disadvantaged groups is actively promoted through the service delivery, marketing and evaluation.

Activities

• An Advisory Board brings together experts from across the London childcare sector, to provide strategic direction, with input from a London Childcare Providers Consultative Committee. This Committee enables childcare providers to share their experiences and identify priority issues. There is an annual cross-borough survey of childcare providers’ perspectives. Key concerns and proposals are in turn also fed in to London Boroughs, key London-wide organisations, the Department for Education, and the London MPs parliamentary group.
• Free training sessions and exchange visits are organised for childcare providers and those working with providers.
• A new section on the Daycare Trust website will include resource information regarding home learning and parenting, and a regular London e-bulletin keeps providers and partners informed of events and services, and provides a mechanism for feedback. The Daycare Trust parent information line,  open five days a week, includes an interpreting facility for non-English speakers.

Other useful London links

Information about other organisations that specifically provide London-related information.

Further information.

Contact

For more information, and to subscribe to the London e-bulletin, download the project flyer or contact Deborah Brodie, London Childcare Project Co-ordinator, at: dbrodie@daycaretrust.org.uk or on 020 7940 7512 (direct line) or 020 7940 7510 (switchboard).

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