STROUD MP Siobhan Baillie has launched an online survey asking local people their views and experiences of childcare across the district.

Siobhan has long campaigned for reform of childcare provision and said she wants to hear from parents, guardians and childcare providers.

The short survey can be accessed at this link: https://www.siobhanbaillie.org.uk/form/childcare-constituency-survey

“It is really important local voices are heard in the national campaign to reform and improve childcare,” said Siobhan.

“I continue to press the Government to make access to childcare easier, less bureaucratic, cheaper and helpful for parents and providers.

“We need to make it work.

"We have parents desperate to go back to work to fill labour shortages in the country but the present system makes it difficult for them to do it.

“Our fantastic early years experts are also struggling. 

"I therefore urge local childcare providers and parents to make their views known to me via this survey.

"I recently used Stroud views in a debate about childcare ratios. 

"Local information helps me make the case for change nationally.”

The survey comes on the back of a roundtable Siobhan co-chaired and hosted in Parliament last week on childcare with the think tank Onward.

MPs, Pregnant then Screwed, National Day Nurseries Association, Mumsnet, Women’s Budget Group and Save the Children were among those who came along.

Topics on the agenda included: childcare credits, front loaded child benefit, childcare provider reforms and parental leave reforms.

Following the roundtable, Siobhan then held a meeting with the Department for Education to discuss the topic and early years education.

The MP and Onward are currently finalising their report on childcare that will be submitted to the government and made public.