Have your say on childcare in the North East: join an online discussion group for parents and carers

Developing a Regional Childcare Strategy for the North East Combined Authority (NECA)

We are supporting the Early Education and Childcare Coalition to develop a Regional Childcare Strategy for the North East Combined Authority, as part of its Child Poverty Action Plan.

We want to hear from you! We are running a series of online discussion groups for parents and carers to help us understand how families in the region use childcare, what’s working well and what changes are needed.

We are looking to hear from parents and carers who:

– Are parents to a child or children aged 0-14, or up to 18 if your child has Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

Everyone who takes part in a group will receive a £25 shopping voucher.

Find out more by clicking the link below and sign-up to take part in an online discussion group for your area:

• County Durham on Thursday 30^th April at 10.15
• Gateshead on Tuesday 5^th May at 10.30
• Newcastle on Friday 17^th April at 10.30
• North Tyneside on Thursday 23^rd April at 10.15
• Northumberland on Friday 24^th April at 10.30
• South Tyneside on Tuesday 28^th April at 10.30
• Sunderland on Wednesday 15^th April at 10.15

We would like to hear parents and carers views on:

– Finding and using formal childcare like nurseries, childminders, after-school clubs and holiday childcare

– How much childcare costs

– Using government help with childcare costs, like free childcare hours, Universal Credit and Tax-Free Childcare

– What has worked well for you, and what has been difficult

We’d also like to hear how things might be different for different children and families such as:

– Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

– Single parents

– Parents who have childcare help from others, like grandparents or other family members

– Kinship carers (a friend or family member caring for a child because their parents are not able to)