Childcare must take more account of minority ethnic communities

The needs of black and minority ethnic communities are
overlooked by childcare providers, according to research published
by the Daycare Trust.

More white families accessed childcare in 2002 than their black
or minority ethnic counterparts, says the report. Childcare was
used by 87 per cent of white parents compared to 81 per cent of
black parents, 70 per cent of Asian parents and 71 per cent of
parents from other minority ethnic groups.

Stephen Burke, director of the Daycare Trust, said childcare can
help promote equality and tackle disadvantage, but still too many
children from black and minority ethnic communities are missing
out.
 
The report calls for national and local governments to monitor the
impact of the National Childcare Strategy on black and minority
ethnic groups. In addition, it wants all early years settings to
embrace and implement the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000,
which puts a duty on public bodies to promote equal
opportunities.

The recommendations follow a year-long project, Parents’
Eye,  on gaps in childcare for black and minority ethnic
communities.

The team found that 53 per cent of black parents said too little
information was available about childcare services compared with 45
per cent of white parents and 37 per cent of Asian parents.

On workforce issues the report says existing efforts to recruit
more staff from black and minority ethnic groups should be
evaluated and developed  to build representative workforces at all
levels.

Copies of the Parents’ Eye project report are available on
request from the Daycare Trust 020 7840 3350.