childcare, says Chris Barnham.
In the song Step Right Up, Tom Waits sings the virtues of a mystery product. For only a dollar, it does just about anything you would ever want, including mowing the lawn, picking up the kids, walking the dog and doubling on sax.
In recent times it has appeared that the mystery product, at least as far as policymakers are concerned, is the holy grail of affordable, quality childcare. It can boost children's chances of later school success, solve child poverty, hoist low-income families out of worklessness and boost the economy.
With all these benefits on offer, it is no wonder this field of policy has become increasingly crowded. We have had Government publications (More Great Childcare and More Affordable Childcare). There have also been significant reports in recent times from organisations such as the Institute for Public Policy Research, Policy Exchange, and now - most recently - the Lib Dem thinktank CentreForum.
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