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Issues of Access and Choice in the Mixed Economy of Daycare for Under Fives in Tower Hamlets Docklands
Author(s) -
Bernstock Penny
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
children and society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.538
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1099-0860
pISSN - 0951-0605
DOI - 10.1111/j.1099-0860.1993.tb00407.x
Subject(s) - borough , economics , economic growth , business , medicine , pathology
SUMMARY. The ‘market’ is now being promoted as the most appropriate mechanism for meeting parents' needs for daycare. This article reports research undertaken in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets early in 1992 to assess the consequences for access to child daycare of changes in policy which have led to increased emphasis upon market‐based solutions and a ‘mixed economy’ of daycare. Socio‐economic change, with a widening range of employment and income levels, and increasing numbers of young children characterise the area. There has been a reduction in daycare options for the majority of households with under fives. Affordability is now one of the major factors determining access to daycare. Many other problems in the operation of the market in Tower Hamlets are described. Questions are raised about the viability of a mixed economy of daycare, in the light of the financial problems being experienced by day nurseries operating in the area, and the extent to which private companies can be relied on to provide childcare assistance for their staff. National policy makers must ensure that the daycare needs of low income households are met through the mixed economy of daycare.