THE growing demand for flexible childcare is not being met says Darlington Borough Council.

The local authority’s children and young person’s scrutiny committee met last month to discuss the rise in unmet demand for affordable afterschool and holiday childcare.

Darlington’s Childcare Sufficiency Assessment, 2016-17 revealed that the main issue parents face is the need for local childcare to be flexible and affordable, including access to holiday and out of school provision.

According to the report the number of recorded cases of unmet childcare demand in Darlington has risen from five during the years 2013 - 2014 to 17 in 2015 – 2016.

Results of a questionnaire by Darlington People and Families’ Information Support echo these concerns. It revealed that out of 71 people: ten stated that local childcare is not available at the times when it is needed; 17 said childcare is not affordable; 14 explained they have been unable to take up employment or training due to a lack of childcare; and nine responses stated that they have had problems accessing breakfast, after school or holiday club places for their child.

One parent said: “I have been using childcare facilities for the last 12 years and there are very few holiday clubs that cater for hard working families. There are many available for 10am – 3pm but there are not many families that work those hours.

“Child care facilities need to start thinking about the families who have no choice but to work from before 9 in the morning until after 5 in the evening - that also provide activities that the older child wants to attend.”

Another said: “I find it really frustrating that I can only afford to put my child into nursery for 6 hours a week as I get no funding. I use this time to go to work.”

Concerns have also been raised about the lack of childcare and accessible activities for children with disabilities.

According to the Darlington People and Families’ Information Support, while childminders express an interest in working with disabled children, children are ‘not exclusively placed with these childminders’.

The report stated the council aims to tackle these problems by providing parents with up-to-date information about financial assistance and by assisting childcare providers with sustainability.