A survey regarding childcare provisions in the island will close on Monday (August 9).
The Isle of Man Chamber of Commerce Legislation Group and the Department of Education, Sport and Culture (DESC) are conducting up to date research on behalf of the Child Care Strategy Working Group (CCSWG).
The CCSWG is a group comprising representatives of island childcare providers, the Isle of Man Chamber of Commerce Legislative Group, and cross-Governmental representatives, to work on the implementation of Tynwald recommendations in this area.
In June, we reported that the group was looking into the provision for additional educational needs (AEN) following a DESC survey - which was open between September and December last year - which found that an overwhelming 60% of respondents felt AEN provision in schools was not particularly effective.
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Among other concerns, nursery owners told us they felt they have been left behind, and have to fund specialised support for AEN children from their own pockets - largely by incurring a loss.
It is hoped the current CCSWG survey will shed a light on ’current requirements, challenges and thoughts in respect of childcare’ both parents and childcare providers are facing, which ’will help to form future legislation and initiatives in this area’.
There are two separate surveys available online. The first is for parents, or people with childcare responsibility, and must be repeated for each child that they have, and the second is for employers of staff members with childcare responsibilities.
An introduction to the survey online reads: ’Having and raising children is something which impacts not only parents and children, but wider family members who care for the child, businesses who employ those who care for a child, childcare providers, and the wider business community and economy.
’The CCSWG is aware that the pandemic has led to changes for families and employers.
’We would therefore like to ask for your views as members of the business community who have children, or those with child caring responsibility, or employers of such staff members, about your current requirements, challenges and thoughts in respect of childcare.
’The responses to this survey will help to form future legislation and initiatives in this area [and] will be anonymous and only anonymised data will be shared.’