Overview
Executive summary
- This was a survey of current and potential childcare users in the Mablethorpe area. It was open for three weeks.
- It was very widely promoted to news outlets and partners, social media, staff and the public.
- There were 47 respondents, of which 31 had children aged 0 to 4 or were pregnant. Of these, 29 lived in or accessed childcare in the Mablethorpe area.
- Most respondents, 18 (62%), said they would be eligible and intend to take up the new offer when the funded offer changes as of April 2024.
Introduction
In response to the closure of a childcare service located in the children’s centre Mablethorpe, the Early years and childcare support team undertook a parental survey in Mablethorpe to ascertain the need for childcare in this area.
The results from this survey will inform the strategic decision whether to increase the childcare provision within the Mablethorpe area.
The page included useful links for help with:
- childcare costs
- information on Lincolnshire's local offer for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities and their families
Stakeholders
Parent or carers of children under school age living in or accessing childcare in Mablethorpe.
Methodology
A survey was open to the public on the homepage of Let’s talk Lincolnshire for three weeks from 24 September to 16 October 2023.
Promotion was carried out via various methods:
- news releases were sent out to local media outlets
- social media messages were sent out on the following pages:
- Lincolnshire County Council
- Children’s centres
- Maternity hub
- an article was put in the Town and Parish Council newsletter targeted to East Lindsey
- email newsletters sent to childcare settings, children’s clubs, childcare groups, DWP contact, Let’s talk Lincolnshire registered participants
- A poster was developed that was delivered to local doctor’s surgeries and supermarkets
Findings and conclusions
- The project page had 142 page visitors. Of that number, 64 people clicked for further information and 44 of them completed 47 surveys. This is a 33% visitor to respondent conversion rate which is positive. The number of respondents using the different access methods were very similar. The highest number (13) used an email link they had received directly, 11 came from social media and 12 via the QR code on the leaflet.
- Of the 47 respondents, 31 (66%) have got children aged between 0 and 4 or are pregnant. 16 (34%) have not got children in the age range.
- Of the 31, 29 live or access childcare in the Mablethorpe area. Of that number, 14 (48%) don’t access childcare. One said they didn’t want their child to attend childcare but 13 said they had a barrier to accessing childcare.
- Of the 13 stating they had a barrier, four (31%) said they didn’t have transport and the childcare is too far away. Five (38%) had another reason as a barrier, two of these commented that their local nursery had closed. Two (13%) said they couldn’t afford the costs, both responded to say that they would be eligible when the funding changes and will then be accessing childcare.
- Of the 15 (52%) currently accessing childcare, they were using a variety of settings across the area.
- When asked if the childcare met their family’s needs, 12 said it did. Three said it didn’t, too expensive for the hours needed, difficult to get to and child doesn’t like the setting “loved the seashells nursery that was at the children centre”.
- The final question related to the forthcoming changes to the funded offer. Of the 29 people that live in or access childcare in Mablethorpe, 18 (62%) said that they will be eligible and intend to take up the new offer.
Conclusions and next steps
An internal report will be written. This will be used to inform the strategic decision to tender the childcare service with the children’s centre in Mablethorpe. The report will be available following approval.
Appendices
Appendix 1 survey
Lincolnshire County Council are undertaking a parental survey to assess the need for childcare in the Mablethorpe area.
Your views on this survey are important to help us shape the future of childcare services in the Mablethorpe area and ensure they meet your needs.
Within this survey, childcare is considered as care and education provided for children aged 0 to 4 years that you pay for and rely on to enable you to work, study or volunteer or where you access your child’s early years funded education entitlement (15 or 30 hours).
Please only complete this survey if you live and access childcare in the Mablethorpe area.
Your responses to this survey are intended to be anonymous. When completing open text responses, remember not to include personal or sensitive information.
If you are logged in when completing the survey, your user account details will be recorded against your responses.
Your user account details will be removed before survey responses are analysed.
If you do not want your user account details associated with your responses, you should log out of your account before continuing with the survey. You can then respond anonymously.
For further information on how we process your information, see our privacy notice.
1. Do you have children aged 0-4 years or are you expecting a baby in the next 6 months? Mandatory question.
- Yes
- No - please skip to the end of the survey
2. Do you live or access childcare in the Mablethorpe area? Mandatory question
- Yes
- No - we are seeking the views of people who live or access childcare in the Mablethorpe area, as you have told us that you do not live or access childcare in Mablethorpe the survey has ended. Please skip to end of survey
3. What age is your child/children? Select all that apply. Mandatory question
- Currently pregnant
- Under 1 year old
- 1 year old
- 2 years old
- 3 years old
- 4 years old
4. Do you currently access childcare? Mandatory question
- Yes. If yes, please state where your child attends. Please answer 4.1 below
- No - please answer 4.2 below
4.1 My childcare provision: Mandatory question
- Meets my family's needs
- Does not meet my family's needs - please answer 4.1.1 below
4.1.1 Please select the most appropriate reason: Mandatory question
- Does not open enough hours
- Does not open enough weeks a year
- Does not meet the specific needs of my child
- Is difficult to get to
- Cannot offer me the places I need
- Other - please specify
4.2 What is the reason you do not access childcare? Please choose the most appropriate answer. Mandatory question
- I do not want my child to attend childcare
- I have a barrier to accessing childcare - please answer 4.2.1 below
4.2.1 Please choose the most appropriate reason: Mandatory question
- My child is not eligible for funded hours
- I am unable to get a place that meets my family's needs (times/days)
- I do not have transport and the childcare is too far away
- I cannot afford the costs
- My preferred provider(s) are full
- Other, please specify
5. Are you intending to start to use childcare in the next 6 months?
- Yes - answer Q.5.1
- No
5.1 If yes, can you tell us why? Please choose the most appropriate option.
- To access a funded 3- & 4-year-old place
- To access a funded 2-year-old place
- I am returning to work
- I will be starting training or studying and will need childcare
6. The funded offer is changing, as of April 2024 eligible 2-year-olds of working families will be entitled to 15 hours of funded childcare. In September 2024 this offer will be extended to children aged 9 months and by September 2025, children from 9 months to school age will be able to access 30 hours of funded childcare.
With this in mind, how might your childcare needs change?
- I will be eligible and intend to take up the new offer
- I will not be eligible for the new offer and my childcare needs will not change