Since the Childcare Act was passed in 2006, local authorities have had a legal duty to act as market managers to ensure there is sufficient childcare for every child in their area. Last week's report by childcare charity Daycare Trust explored how that duty is evolving in the current economic climate (CYP Now, 25 June-1 July 2009). Although the report says the childcare market is currently holding up well, it warns that if the recession deepens, causing a rise in unemployment, this could have a knock-on effect on how much childcare parents use, which in turn could force settings to close. A clear message from the report is that local authorities need to be preparing now for this situation.
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