Engagement report – parental childcare sufficiency project

Appendices

Appendix 1 - parental childcare survey 2024

Please only complete this survey if you use, want to use or intend to use childcare.

The findings will be published in autumn 2024 and can be found on our support for childcare providers page.

We only use the information you provide for the purposes of analysing the childcare sufficiency need in Lincolnshire. We will only ask you to provide the minimum amount of information we need in order to do this. Your information is only shared where necessary and where the law allows it. 

We will only keep your information for as long as is necessary, and in line with our retention schedules.

Your responses to this survey are intended to be anonymous. When completing open text responses, remember not to include personal or sensitive information.

1. Do you currently use, want to use or intend to use childcare in Lincolnshire? Tick only one option. Mandatory question.

Yes
No - please skip to end of survey

2. Please provide your full postcode. We need your full postcode so that we can identify the areas that have insufficient childcare. This information will not be used to identify you. Mandatory question. 
 

3. What age ranges are the children that access, want or need to access childcare?  Please tick all that apply. Mandatory question.

Under 2
2 years
3 to 4 years
4 to 11 years - primary school age
11 to 16 years - secondary school age
16 to 18 years - sixth form or college age

4. If you answered under 2 or 2 years to the previous question, are you aware of the expanded funded offer for working parents of 2-year-olds and under 2’s to be implemented from April 2024? Tick only one option. Mandatory question.

Yes
No – find out more information on the HMRC Childcare Choices website
Not applicable

5. Are you eligible for the new 2-year-old funding for working parents?

Yes - please answer 5.1 below
No

5.1. Have you been able to get a code to access your entitlement?

Yes
No - please answer 5.1.1 below

5.1.1. What has stopped you from getting a code? Please specify below.
 

6. Have you been able to access all the childcare that you need? Tick only one option. Mandatory question.

Yes
No - please answer 6.1 and 6.2 below

6.1. What childcare do you need that you are unable to access? Please tick all that apply. Mandatory question.

Childminder
Day nursery
Pre-school or playgroup
School nursery or preschool
After school club - primary or secondary school aged children
Breakfast club - primary or secondary school aged children
Holiday club - primary or secondary school aged children
Home child carer or nanny
Other

If other, please specify below.

6.2. Are any of the following preventing you from accessing childcare? Please tick all that apply. Mandatory question.

None
There are no places locally
I don't have transport
I cannot afford the cost
My preferred provider(s) are full
Places are not available at the times or the days that we need them
Other

If other, please specifty below.

7. What is the main reason you access childcare? Tick one option only. Mandatory question.

To be able to work
To be able to study
To be able to volunteer
So my child can access their free entitlement
To give me some free time
To give my child opportunities to socialise with other children
Other

If other, please specify below.

8. Is one or more of your children considered to have a special educational need or delays in meeting their developmental milestones? Tick only one option. Mandatory question.

Yes - answer the next set of questions
No - go to question 11

8.1. Do you feel the childcare that your child or children access meets their additional needs? Tick only one option. Mandatory question.

Yes
No - go to question 8.1.1

8.1.1. Can you briefly tell us why?
 

8.2. Has a childcare provider refused a place based on your child’s additional needs? Tick only one option. Mandatory question.

Yes - answer 8.2.1
No

8.2.1. Can you briefly tell us why?
 

The government’s early years childcare offer is:

  • all 3 and 4-year-old children are entitled to 15 hours per week of funded childcare
  • eligible working parents of 3 and 4-year-olds can access an additional 15 hours per week of funded childcare
  • eligible 2-year-olds of working parents and eligible disadvantaged families can access 15 hours per week of funded childcare
  • this can be delivered over 38 weeks of the year or stretched over more weeks, so you have less hours per week over more weeks

9. Are you being offered your full entitlement by your setting? Tick one option.

Yes
No - answer 9.1
Don't know

9.1. What is your child accessing each week? Tick one option.

10 hours or more per week
5 to 9 hours per week
Less than 5 hours per week

10. How does your child access the funded hours? Tick one option

Term time
Stretched (during holidays)

11. Government support can help you with your childcare costs. This can include Tax free childcare and the childcare element of universal credit. 

Are you using government support to pay for your childcare? Tick only one option.

Yes
No - answer question 11.1

11.1. What is the reason you are not accessing Government support? Tick only one option.

Not eligible
Not aware of benefits
My provider does not offer it
Other

If other, please specify below.

12. How do you find information about childcare in your area? Please tick all that apply.

Internet searches
Noticeboards
Word of mouth
Leaflets and advertisements
Social media
Children’s centre
Other

If other, please specify below.

13. How would you currently describe the cost of childcare you are using? Tick one option only.

Inexpensive or low cost
Reasonable or affordable
Expensive or high cost

14. If you would like to make any further comments on childcare in Lincolnshire, please use the box below.
 

Thank you very much for completing this survey.