Childcare assistance

Research on the impact of childcare assistance on people’s employment status.

These research reports and documents have been released as part of a programme of work to develop a research archive and improve access to historic research previously not released by the Ministry. We will potentially be adding to this page over time.

Informal childcare, non-standard childcare, childcare for disadvantaged parents, employer-supported services and large-scale childcare provision

2011 | ISBN 978-0-9951241-2-7

This evidence brief focuses on the use of informal childcare, non-standard care, childcare for disadvantaged parents and employer supported services. In New Zealand, financial assistance is not available to providers or users of home-based services for school-aged children.

Out-of-school care services and aiding parents into work

2011 | ISBN 978-0-9951241-3-4

This brief looks at the different approaches to out-of-school (OSS) care and the evidence available on the impacts of each approach. Many parents prefer to use informal OSS care, however access to formal childcare is central to many parents' decisions to work. Nearly half of children currently using formal OSS and subsidised by Out-of-School Care and Recreation (OSCAR) would not have used the service had the subsidy not been available.

Childcare subsidies for early childhood and out-of-school care to increase parental employment

2010 | ISBN 978-0-9951242-2-6

This evidence brief examines the impact of early childhood and Out-of-School Care and Recreation (OSCAR) subsidies on parental employment. Childcare subsidies can support employment by: lowering the cost of paid versus unpaid care, making formal care more affordable; increasing choice for parents, particularly when offered alongside other policies such as paid leave; making it easier for low-wage mothers to comply with employer requests for more work time or different work schedules; and supporting stable care arrangements that help sustain employment. The cost-effectiveness is unknown.

Facts & figures - childcare

2010

This brief examines facts and figures relating to childcare and childcare assistance in New Zealand. It found that one-third of low to middle income families with school age children used childcare in 2006 and most of these families found it affordable. Childcare subsidies promote employment for disadvantaged families.

Facts & figures - parents and employment: impact on children

2010

This paper presents facts and figures relating to the impact parental employment has on children. It found that: there are few negative effects on younger children when their mothers work; the best way to reduce child poverty is for parents to work; there are some positive effects for children whose mothers work and there can be negative impacts on adolescents from reforms that encourage or require that mothers work.