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Childcare Bill

I support what the noble Baroness, Lady Walmsley, said and wish to quote from the Government’s own document, Choice for Parents, the best start for children: a ten year strategy for childcare. In its annex on child development, paragraph A12, headed ““Awareness of Quality””, states:"““Although the quality of the childcare experience is vital to child outcomes, there is evidence to suggest that parents do not accurately observe the quality of the childcare they use””." Parents significantly overestimate quality, do not use all available information when judging quality and incorrectly believe that certain observable characteristics are indicative of non-observable quality. It goes on to say that they,"““undervalue quality, and trade it off against price””." It goes on further to express concerns about the parents’ understanding of the quality of childcare. So what the noble Baroness, Lady Walmsley, said is very important.