Childcare support in Lincolnshire

Over 1,000 parents have contributed to a survey on childcare which will help to plan services in the future.

Key themes from the survey show most parents and carers use childcare and are satisfied with the quality of that childcare, with one couple saying:  “We love our childcare providers, they are essential to us as neither of us works in the county.”

Councillor Mrs Patricia Bradwell, Executive Councillor for Children’s Services, said: “It’s important that children have access to good quality childcare for the best possible start in life. This survey will be very useful in helping us decide on priorities and how to plan the services that parents have asked for.”

For some parents and carers there is a need for more childcare, particularly for school-aged children, and childcare at different times of the day or during school holidays. One of the main barriers to using more childcare is cost.

“We can assist parents to access support for childcare costs and look to increase sufficiency of out of school childcare, childminders and home carers”, added Councillor Mrs Bradwell. “Feedback from these surveys give us a handle on the main issues and concerns that we need to take on board.”

To see what parents said about childcare in Lincolnshire click here for the full survey results (download Lincolnshire’s Annual Report – A Parental Perspective 2018/19).

In Lincolnshire, 611 private, voluntary and independent providers, 55 schools, and 27 academies deliver funded education places. Of these, 94.37% have engaged in delivering 30 hours childcare.