The report, Assessment of Benefits and Costs of Out of School Care, published as part of the Executive's Insight series, observes that investment in childcare is 'a valuable tool for economic development in terms of job creation in the childcare sector as well as enabling parents, principally mothers, to return to paid work. These services represent considerable value for money, which indicates the benefits of further sustained investment in OSC.'
The report, produced by the Blake Stevenson consultancy, adds that while out-of-school clubs are essentially small businesses and should be run along business lines, 'there is an argument for continued public investment to ensure the sustainability of services, because the benefits outweigh the return on investment.' However, it points out that some services can become sustainable and do not need continued public investment.
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