Child care is high up the agenda of media and policymakers, planners and providers, nationally and locally. Debate has highlighted issues around the status of child care, the cost and quality of child care and the number of places available, and the expanding workforce.
National policies have focused on developing child care services in the 20% most disadvantaged areas. What has been
the impact of the national child care strategy on the ground? And who really has a say about local child care provision?
Daycare Trust's Child Care Challenge project aims to answer these questions. We are speaking directly with parents and children to find out their views in different parts of the country.
Child care should be for all. But what about families in poverty living outside the 20% most disadvantaged areas? Have the needs of children from black and minority ethnic communities or disabled children been met? How does Britain compare with other countries?
Daycare Trust's annual conference will present the initial findings of the Child Care Challenge project. It will be a unique
opportunity to listen to parents and debate with policymakers and to influence the Treasury's review of child care.
