Childcare focus groups

The corporate research team ran three focus groups with parents in March 2010. The groups were based around childcare for children aged 0-4, childcare for children aged 5-14 and childcare for children with special needs.

The aim was to gain further insight into parents' experiences of childcare, picking up on issues identified in the 2007 Childcare Sufficiency Survey. The focus groups were also used to inform questions in the 2010 Childcare Sufficiency Survey.

Key findings

All three groups highlighted that 'information available about childcare' was a key area that needs to be addressed. Other issues raised were the flexibility of childcare for parents of 0-14 year olds and suitable childcare provision for older children and children with special needs.