During July and August 2006 we asked Couch members about their needs for childcare before/after school and during the school holidays. We asked what factors affected their use of formal childcare arrangements (known as out of school services) and any other issues they faced. We also asked Couch members what their ideal out of school services would look like.
Couch members who took part in this questionnaire were asked how satisfied they were with out of school services. Of those who used these services, 43 percent were dissatisfied with their current arrangements. Parents and caregivers identified a range of factors that affected their use of these services, the most common being the cost (34 percent), followed by a lack of local services (25 percent) and doubts about the quality and level of supervision (22 percent). At the same time, a large proportion of respondents said they preferred to care for their children themselves (47 percent). Despite this, there was a clear message that if suitable, quality care was accessible and affordable, many more Couch members would use these services (73 percent would like to use at least one type of care, compared with the current rate of 44 percent). Thank you to the 603 Couch members who completed this questionnaire.
Just over half the Couch members who responded to the questionnaire said they did not currently use out of school services. Of the 312 who did use these services, 57 percent were satisfied with them and 43 percent were dissatisfied.
The most significant barriers identified by Couch members were to do with affordability and accessibility (34 percent identified expense and 25 percent identified a lack of local services), followed by concerns about the quality and level of supervision of existing services (22 percent). Forty seven percent of those who responded said they preferred not to use formal services.
If a suitable programme was available, 53 percent of respondents said they would use after school care and 63 percent would use school holiday programmes. Although smaller numbers said they would use before school care (19 percent) and non-standard hours of care (11 percent), this still represents a sizeable response. In total, 73 percent of those who answered this question indicated they would like to use at least one type of care.
When asked which activities they would most like their children to do during after school care, physical activity (90 percent) was ranked the highest, followed by learning new skills (83 percent), homework (67 percent) and indoor recreation (65 percent).
When asked which activities they would most like their children to do during school holiday programmes, most parents chose physical activity (88 percent) and learning new skills (84 percent), followed by day trips (79 percent). Other highly-rated activities included indoor recreation (62 percent), free time (46 percent) and trips to sporting venues (43 percent).
Of the Couch members who would use before or after school care, many wanted it to be based at their children’s school (61 percent).
Of those people who would use school holiday programmes, 44 percent would like them to be based at a convenient community location.
Most respondents (88 percent) agreed or strongly agreed that at least some out of school service staff should be appropriately qualified or trained.
Most people (93 percent) either agreed or strongly agreed that out of school services should be regularly assessed to ensure quality of care.
If you have a child with a disability or other special needs, please outline any additional issues you and your family face regarding access to before school, after school or school holiday programmes.
Eighty Couch members caring for children with special needs responded to a question about additional issues they faced accessing out of school services. Lack of choice, appropriately-trained staff and cost were all highlighted as major factors affecting these Couch members.
“There is just NOTHING out there available, access is impossible.”
“A child with a disability can’t attend a [programme] without their own caregiver (which normally comes as an expense to the parents on top of the programme fees).”
In addition to this, many talked about their inability to trust providers with their children’s special needs, meaning that they felt unable to use most services.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about your preferences or needs for out of school services? Are there any other issues that haven’t already been covered?
There was a huge response to the final open-ended question with 256 Couch members making additional comments. Many of the comments emphasised issues raised earlier in the questionnaire such as cost, lack of options and the need for care outside of ‘standard’ hours.
Two other issues that came through strongly were the need for employers to be more flexible with staff who have school-aged children, and the need to value the parenting role.
“Instead of having to have children in before and after school care employers should be more flexible with working hours to enable parents to spend more time with their children. The answer is not more childcare, but less, more flexible working hours for parents.”
“I strongly believe that (generally) it is best for children to be looked after by their own parents, and so I think parents should be encouraged, empowered and equipped to do so.”
Conclusion
This questionnaire highlights a number of concerns Couch members have about the current provision of out of school services, including cost, quality and suitability for children with special needs. At the same time, however, there is a clear message that if suitable, quality care were accessible and affordable, many more Couch members would use these services than at present – 73 percent of those who responded said they would like to use at least one type of care, compared to the current rate of 44 percent.
The questionnaire’s findings will now be analysed alongside the responses we received to similar questions we asked at a host of public meetings across the country. We expect a summary of both phases of the consultation to be available in early 2007 on the Families Commission website at www.nzfamilies.org.nz.
