TY - JOUR

T1 - Investigating spatial variations in access to childcare provision using network-based Geographic Information System models

AU - Langford, Mitch

AU - Higgs, Gary

AU - Dallimore, David

PY - 2019/9

Y1 - 2019/9

N2 - A ‘flagship’ policy outlined in the current Welsh Government’s Programmefor Government (2016) aims to provide 30 hours of free early educationand childcare per week to the working parents of three and four-year-olds.However, in common with many other countries, there is currently a lack ofdetail regarding existing levels of childcare provision that can act as abenchmark with which to examine the impacts of this policy. This paperaddresses an urgent need to understand current levels of provision atdetailed geographical scales so as to provide an accurate picture of earlychildhood education and care across Wales. By drawing on GeographicalInformation Systems (GIS) network models we compare the spatialdistribution of providers with that of potential demand arising from thosepopulation groups targeted in the childcare offer. These provide a simple tounderstand supply-to-demand ratio that overcome the limitations of ratiosderived for arbitrary administrative boundaries. The types of map-basedoutputs that emanate from such an approach are demonstrated to providemore insights into spatial patterns of accessibility to current levels ofchildcare provision that have guided the choice of pilot studies that willinform the roll out of the full childcare offer by the Welsh Government in2020.

AB - A ‘flagship’ policy outlined in the current Welsh Government’s Programmefor Government (2016) aims to provide 30 hours of free early educationand childcare per week to the working parents of three and four-year-olds.However, in common with many other countries, there is currently a lack ofdetail regarding existing levels of childcare provision that can act as abenchmark with which to examine the impacts of this policy. This paperaddresses an urgent need to understand current levels of provision atdetailed geographical scales so as to provide an accurate picture of earlychildhood education and care across Wales. By drawing on GeographicalInformation Systems (GIS) network models we compare the spatialdistribution of providers with that of potential demand arising from thosepopulation groups targeted in the childcare offer. These provide a simple tounderstand supply-to-demand ratio that overcome the limitations of ratiosderived for arbitrary administrative boundaries. The types of map-basedoutputs that emanate from such an approach are demonstrated to providemore insights into spatial patterns of accessibility to current levels ofchildcare provision that have guided the choice of pilot studies that willinform the roll out of the full childcare offer by the Welsh Government in2020.

KW - Geographic Information System

KW - Welsh Government free childcare offer

KW - accessibility

KW - childcare provision

KW - early childhood education and care

KW - floating catchment area

U2 - 10.1111/spol.12419

DO - 10.1111/spol.12419

M3 - Article

VL - 53

SP - 661

EP - 677

JO - Social Policy & Administration

JF - Social Policy & Administration

SN - 0144-5596

IS - 5

ER -