Call for Newry parents and childcare providers to share views

What is your experience of childcare in your area, and what do you think is needed to support and enhance our vital childcare infrastructure in Northern Ireland?

Employers For Childcare has launched the 2020 Northern Ireland Childcare Survey for parents and childcare providers, giving you an opportunity to share your views.

Article continues below

Aoife Hamilton, Policy & Information Manager at Employers For Childcare, highlights the importance of this research, “We are calling on all parents and childcare providers from across Northern Ireland to complete a short, online survey.

“At a time when the newly restored Executive has identified childcare as a key priority, and has committed to publishing a Childcare Strategy, this survey provides an important platform for parents and childcare providers to share their views and have their voices heard,” she added.

Last year’s report, marking a decade of this seminal research tracking trends and patterns year on year, revealed that parents in County Down were spending an average of £139 per week on childcare, and almost half reported that there was insufficient childcare provision in their area.

At the same time, the research highlighted the difficulties experienced by childcare providers in County Down including increased costs and challenges to their sustainability.

With a new Executive now in place, Aoife continued, “It is a really important time for parents and childcare providers to be heard on this vital issue.

“Work is now underway to implement the priorities in the New Decade, New Approach deal and there is a real opportunity to work with the Executive and Assembly to deliver greater investment in our childcare infrastructure.

“We will be using the results from the survey to ensure the experience of parents and childcare providers informs the next steps for our elected representatives and policymakers,” Aoife added.

To share your experience of using or providing childcare, and to be in with a chance to win either an overnight stay at the Galgorm Resort & Spa or a £100 Boots Voucher, visit www.employersforchildcare.org for links to the short online surveys.

For more of today’s top stories in Newry and beyond, click here.  

Short URL: https://newrytimes.com/?p=68707

Posted by NewryTimes News on Feb 17 2020. Filed under Community. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry