Ealing parents asked to shape under-5 childcare

By Hiyastar News

Parents, carers and families planning for a baby in Ealing are being asked to complete a council survey on childcare for children under 5 before it closes on 29 June.

The survey is part of Ealing Council’s regular Childcare Sufficiency Assessment, which checks whether the borough has enough childcare places, where they are available and whether they match what families need in daily life.

Survey closes on 29 June

The short online survey is aimed at Ealing residents who currently have a child under 5, as well as people who may be planning for one. It focuses on the practical issues families face when looking for childcare help, including location, cost, flexibility and availability.

The practical picture

• Deadline: 29 June.
• Who can respond: Ealing residents with a child under 5, or those planning for a child.
• Area covered: childcare provision across Ealing’s 7 towns.
• Main focus: whether places are available, affordable, flexible and suitable for different needs.
• How it will be used: responses will feed into the council’s Childcare Sufficiency Assessment report.

Feedback will map gaps across Ealing’s 7 towns

The assessment is a legal requirement, but the council says family experiences are needed to show what the numbers may miss. A nursery place may exist on paper, for example, but still be hard to use if it is too far away, unavailable for a baby, not suitable for a child with additional needs, or closed during the hours a parent works.

The council wants views on whether childcare is working for babies, toddlers and children with additional needs. It is also asking whether provision fits shift work, weekend work and other patterns that do not follow standard office hours.

For families, the findings could affect where future places are encouraged, which age groups need more provision, and whether more flexible hours are needed in parts of the borough.

Responses feed into future childcare plans

Ealing Council says survey results will be analysed and included in its Childcare Sufficiency Assessment report. The findings are expected to help identify shortages in certain areas, limited provision for specific age groups and gaps in flexible childcare.

The assessment will also inform wider funding and policy decisions linked to early years provision.

Councillor Blerina Hashani, the council’s cabinet member for a fairer start, said every family’s experience of childcare matters, including those using nurseries, relying on informal care or planning ahead. She encouraged parents and carers to take a few minutes to complete the survey before the 29 June deadline.

Source: Ealing Council