Corporate childcare chains provide a much lower-quality service than independent-private and community based childcare providers, according to a new study published in the Australian Journal of Early Childhood.

The study, co-authored by Scott Weaven and Debra Grace from Griffith University, examines parental and staff perceptions of childcare quality across three different business structures.

According to the study, both parents and childcare staff perceive corporate childcare chains as providing lower levels of service quality because they are more focused on generating profits, than on service provision.

“Numerous concerns were raised about corporate chains during the study, including compliance with minimum staff:child ratios and class sizes, employment of unqualified staff, employee job satisfaction, absenteeism, staff turnover and an over-reliance on relief staff,” said [one of the authors].

“In comparison, childcare staff perceived community-based care to be of marginally higher quality, as they often exceeded minimum regulations regarding staff:child ratios, class sizes and numbers of qualified and experienced staff, and physical infrastructure was better."

“Parents also consistently viewed independent-private centres as superior, because they met (or exceeded) regulations, and offered a higher level of care."

“They did this by promoting hygienic and safe learning environments, providing nutritious food and stimulating toys and equipment, developing appropriate developmental activities and administering group activities,” [author said].

Early Childhood Australia CEO Pam Cahir said the study showed that the quality of service was important to parents using childcare, and to the staff.

“Experienced staff interviewed for this study overwhelmingly identified regulations such as staff:child ratios, class sizes and staff qualifications as important components of childcare service quality."

“A close and personal relationship between staff, children and their parents was also seen to be a strong indicator of quality."

“This is why the Government’s quality reform agenda is so important. Not only will it improve staff:child ratios, class sizes and staff qualifications, but it will give parents a greater understanding of how quality can be assessed,” Ms Cahir said.

The Australian Journal of Early Childhood is a publication of Early Childhood Australia.

Media Contacts: Pam Cahir, 0407 008 524 | Laura Maclean, 0423 377 567