But family households - and indeed most small-to-medium businesses - have yet to feel the impact of this.
In July, the Government unleashed its More Affordable Childcare report, giving the sector much to digest. Wide ranging in scope, it rang some alarm bells and failed to address how 'affordable' equates to 'sustainable'.
Some proposals, such as increasing the number of hours that can be offered without Ofsted registration, were not welcomed. However, proposals such as tax breaks on childcare for working parents suggest a genuine intent to make the market more responsive.
As business consultant Gordon Beck outlines in our opening feature (p4-5), a move to childcare vouchers for 1.3 million families in the first phase of the tax break scheme could give parents a single point of access to all childcare funding and give the Government central control over the amount of free funding going to providers. While not quite the supply-side funding the sector has always desired, it could be the next best thing, creating a regular and more efficient flow of income.
The result of the Government's consultation on the scheme is due to be published very soon, with a promise of detailed information about how it will operate. That will certainly make interesting reading.
