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London childcare providers network
update 4
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Childcare providers survey - 363 responses!
THANK YOU - to the 363 of you who responded to our 2009 London Childcare Providers Survey. This was a larger response than we had expected, and you also gave us over thirty sides of comments.
The top five issues were:
1. Implementing the Early Years Foundation Stage.
2. Ofsted inspections.
3. Improving quality.
4. Impact of the recession.
5. Responding to policy change.
Click here to see the full results, including a breakdown by type of provider. Issues such as local authority rent rises are already being fed into policy level discussions with relevant bodies. “It is useful for policy makers to involve a range of grassroots providers, at the early stages, thereby giving a sense of ownership and understanding”, said one provider.
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London childcare providers forum
The first annual London childcare providers forum took place on 23 June 2009. Click here to see the programme and presentations. Feedback was excellent and key issues, such as recent local authority rent rises, were raised with a London panel.
“this conference was one of the best that I have been to ... the content was relevant, well presented and time for audience participation was exceptional. It gave delegates an opportunity to air their views, and learn from eachothers’ experience”.
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Top ten tips for information outreach
Based on a need identified by those working in childcare sector, we organised two Information Outreach workshops, including presentations by a Parent Champion. Due to its popularity a third is planned for the end of October, and probably further ones beyond that. Click here, under 'Information gathered by the London childare providers project', to see the Top Ten Tips for information outreach, developed by workshop participants.
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Parent champions toolkit goes live!
With the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), Daycare Trust has been in involved in the development of a Parent Champions scheme for family information outreach. Parents who have experience of using childcare act as advocates and peer advisers in their community. Local authorities interested in implementing the scheme can contact Daycare Trust through the website. A toolkit is now available on the DCSF website.
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London holiday childcare costs
According to the Daycare Trust ‘Holiday childcare costs survey 2009’, the typical weekly cost is £84.98 in inner London, and £108.61 in outer London. Within inner London, the typical local authority childcare cost is £62.70, with PVI (Private, Voluntary, Independent) settings costing £107.26. Within outer London, the typical local authority cost is £103.51 with the PVI cost being £113.72. The England average cost is £90.86, making inner London costs below the national average, and outer London costs above.
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Advice Plus - reaching housing estates
An Advice Plus service has been set up by a2dominion in two housing areas, giving residents access to dozens of specialist advice services under one roof. The sessions take place on fixed days, include creche and translator facilities, and are attended by local councillors and MPs.
Click here to learn about the one in Queens Park.
Click here to learn about the one in the Paddington area.
People can get advice about housing, immigration, jobs and training, benefits and tax credits, debt or health.
Useful websites
4 In 10: The End Child Poverty London Project 4in10 -www.endchildpoverty.org.uk/london - raising awareness and campaigning on child poverty issues in London, identifying projects that have been shown to have a positive impact, and developing networks to share this good practice.
European Cities Against Child Poverty Network -www.againstchildpoverty.com - an EU-wide network with a specific focus on tackling child poverty, led by Greater London Enterprise (GLE), and connecting partners from Amsterdam, London (LDA & London Councils), Milan, Uppsala and Budapest.
London Play - www.londonplay.org.uk - working for improved play spaces and services.
Young London Matters -
www.younglondonmatters.org - a London approach to Every Child Matters.
Childcare Affordability Programme - www.lda.gov.uk/server/show/nav.00100i002001
Government Office for London (GOL) - www.gos.gov.uk/gol - representing central government across the capital, delivering policies and programmes for eleven central government departments in a joined up way, and making London's case in Whitehall.
London Child Poverty Network -www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/
children/childpoverty/network/ -set up by the Government Office for London and London Councils for local authorities and partners to share good practice, discuss local issues and to support pan London approaches to tackling child poverty. It is organising the 2009 London Child Poverty Awards.
London Councils - www.londoncouncils.gov.uk - lobbies the government and others on behalf of its 33 member councils, for a fair share of resources, and to protect and enhance council powers. It also develops policies and supports boroughs to improve their services.
London Development Agency (LDA)
- www.lda.gov.uk - working to deliver the Mayor's vision for London to be a sustainable world city with strong, long-term economic growth, social inclusion and active environmental improvement.
Greater London Authority (GLA)
- www.london.gov.uk - aiming to provide strategic direction for the future of London, and overseeing some cross-London services.
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Information line service
The Daycare Trust information line for parents has a local rate number: 0845 872 6251 - it offers information to parents, employers and professionals on childcare options and financial help with childcare costs. It now also offers a telephone interpretation service.
Opening hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 10am-1pm and 2-5pm & Wednesday 2-5pm. Alternatively email us at info@daycaretrust.org.uk
Training for advice organisations
Daycare Trust is offering free training to advice organisations, on 'Help with Childcare Costs' and Childcare Information and Advocacy'. Click here to find out more.
Daycare Trust Annual Conference
Book now for the Daycare Trust Annual Conference on 17 November 2009.
Childcare and the recession
Click here to read about the Daycare Trust 'Childcare and the Recession' paper.
Up-front costs for childcare
Click here to read about the Daycare Trust paper titled 'Childcare Advance: scoping the need for help with up-front costs'.
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Your London news
If you have London news to share, please email Deborah Brodie, London Childcare Project Coordinator, on dbrodie@daycaretrust.org.uk or telephone 020 7840 3387 (direct) / 020 7840 3350 (switchboard).
www.daycaretrust.org.uk
Daycare Trust, 21 St. George's Road, London, SE1 6ES
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