School age childcare services - regulation review: feasibility study – final options appraisal

11. SWOT Analysis: Model B (Extend regulation to cover holiday activity provision)

11.1 Model B – Political Factors

Strengths

• Demonstrates that SG and CI have responded to feedback from families about the specific pressure point of holiday periods and issues with accessing childcare

Weaknesses

• Creation of perceived unnecessary red tape and costs for businesses
• Will take time to implement due to level of consultation required as part of legislative change
• Only partly achieves SG aims as there is no change to status of organised children’s activities outwith holidays

Opportunities

• More families lifted out of poverty through access to year round stable employment
• More children supported to engage in sports and other activities, contributing to SG health targets

Threats

• If some holiday services stop operating, could increase challenges for families

11.2 Model B - Economic Factors

Strengths

• Parents and carers able to work during holiday periods with potential for increased household incomes
• Parents and carers eligible for UK childcare benefits will be able to use this for a wider range of services during holiday periods
• Increased support for low income families

Weaknesses

• Increased costs for providers of organised children’s activities in school holidays
• Increased cost for Regulators. Cost/resource implications for CI/SSSC are unclear at the moment due to a lack of information around the numbers of services and staff who would need to be registered
• Fewer holiday job opportunities for casual staff if they cannot meet new qualification requirements

Opportunities

• Staff working in term time services able to work in holiday periods, with an increase in their income
• Opportunity for services to expand as they become more affordable to parents due to use of UK childcare benefits

Threats

• Could lead to higher costs for parents if provider costs are passed on and not outweighed by UK childcare benefits
• Negative impact on terms and conditions for staff
• Cannot currently quantify how many services would fall within the regulations or what the cost of registration/inspection/complaints might be for Care Inspectorate

11.3 Model B - Social Factors

Strengths

• Increases available regulated childcare options for children and families and improves choice
• Increased focus and assurances on safeguarding and wellbeing of children and young people
• Consistent set of minimum standards for all regulated school age childcare services

Weaknesses

• Existing services, which provide important support for families, might cease operation as a result of the requirement to register, resulting in fewer services and worse outcomes for families
• Staff may not be able to meet qualification requirements leading to recruitment problems
• Increase in regulatory activity during holiday periods adds to the demands on CI resources and risks to core business

Opportunities

• Better outcomes for children as a result of improved quality standards
• Improved physical and mental wellbeing for both children and families
• Increased access to activities for children from low income families during holiday periods
• Increased parental confidence as a result of regulatory oversight of the quality of holiday services

Threats

• Potential for reduced availability and choice if services cannot/will not meet requirements

11.4 Model B – Technological Factors

Strengths

• None identified

Weaknesses

• None identified

Opportunities

• None identified

Threats:

• Procedures and systems in CI and SSSC would need to change to include new types of service

11.5 Model B – Legal Factors

Strengths

• No change to primary legislation required
• Regulation of specific types of organised children’s activities that operate during school holidays

Weaknesses

• Staff within newly services registered would need to comply with workforce regulation

Opportunities

• None identified

Threats

• Consultation on defining holiday childcare may be complex

11.6 Model B – Environmental Factors

No Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities or Threats identified