You are here: News Local authority family information services in decline – but numbers of childcare enquiries are up – new research
The Family and Childcare Trust warns that parents could miss out on vital advice about help with their childcare costs due to staffing cuts in local authority Family Information Services.
A new survey by the charity reveals that while the number of enquiries to Family Information Services in England has more than doubled since 2014 to more than one million a year, the number of dedicated staff has fallen from an average full-time equivalent of 4.8 to 3.2 per council over the same period. Some councils no longer have a Family Information Service, with all enquiries routed through their generic helpline.
Worryingly, 14 per cent of councils that completed the survey no longer offer childcare brokerage services, a lifeline for families with disabled children whose needs are already poorly served by a lack of childcare places. Only 15 per cent of local authorities in England reported having enough childcare for disabled children in 2016.
Local authorities will also be central to providing information that will help parents access the expanded free early education entitlement for three and four year olds.
Julia Margo, chief executive at the Family and Childcare Trust said:
Childcare support is a complex issue to understand. Parents may not know whether they are better off getting tax credit support or help through the Tax Free Childcare scheme. Universal Credit is also being rolled out, and families – particularly those with fluctuating incomes - will need accurate and ongoing advice from experts to understand which scheme will help them the most. We want Government to make sure local authorities have sufficient funds to deliver their statutory information duties to parents, so that no family loses out on this vital support.
Other survey findings include:
- Free early years education and other childcare questions make up half of all enquiries to Family Information Services.
- 48 per cent of Family Information Services expect changes within their local authorities to affect them in this financial year
- 59 per cent have seen reductions to their outreach services over the last year
- Of the local authorities that responded to our survey, six no longer have a Family Information Service.
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Contact: Mark Bou Mansour, Communications and Campaigns Manager. Telephone: 0207 940 7535, mobile: 07538 334 772, email: mark@familyandchildcaretrust.org.
Notes to Editor:
- Under the Childcare Act 2006 (section 12), local authorities have a duty to provide advice and assistance to families about local services and support. Section 5 of the Childcare Act 2016 amends the Childcare Act 2006 information duties. New regulations will require local authorities to publish information about local childcare services in an electronic format at a prescribed frequency, using open data standards (subject to consultation).
- From 2017 there will be four main financial support systems for childcare: tax credits, Universal Credit, existing employer-supported vouchers and the new tax free offer. Some families will also be receiving help with their childcare costs if they are studying. Many families will not know which system will give them the best support. If they opt for the wrong scheme, families could lose vital financial support. Our report The Childcare Support Gap explains in more detail.
- Childcare ‘brokerage’ services were introduced as a requirement of the Childcare Act 2006, requiring local authorities to provide extra help to families who have difficulty finding suitable childcare, such as those with disabled children. This brokerage might include helping parents to widen their search criteria. For some parents, Family Information Services may contact a childcare provider on behalf of the family, for example. to check if provision is suitable for a disabled child.
- A Parliamentary Inquiry into childcare for disabled children (July 2014) published its findings in a report: Parliamentary Inquiry into childcare for disabled children: levelling the playing field for families with disabled children and young people.
- The Family and Childcare Trust manages the National Association of Family Information Services (NAFIS), a membership scheme for local authority Family Information Services. Members benefit from the sharing of best practice and information on family issues, including childcare.
Methodology
In January 2016 the Family and Childcare Trust sent a survey to 151 Family Information Services in England. There were 115 responses.
We asked questions about their structure, the services they provide, user information, outreach and partnership work, changes that they have undergone and will undergo, website and social media engagement and their family services directory.
About the Family and Childcare Trust
The Family and Childcare Trust aims to make the UK a better place for families. We are a leading national family charity in the field of policy, research and advocacy on childcare and family issues, with over 40 years’ experience. Our on-the-ground work with parents and providers informs our research and campaigns. We focus on the early years and childcare because they are crucial to boosting children’s outcomes throughout life and supporting parents to work.