Latest Publications

This paper proposes an entirely new policy - a National Childcare Contribution Scheme – to help parents manage the high costs of childcare over a number of years.

The paper demonstrates how childcare affordability has deteriorated and will continue to decline in the years ahead.

How do vouchers fit in with other forms of childcare support that are available? How many people claim them in the UK? Are they typically rich professionals,or are voucher users representative of all socio-economic groups? How much does the policy cost the Government and how much will the recently proposed reforms save? All these questions and more are answered in this important and timely evidence paper.

This paper therefore outlines a package of reforms to boost the effectiveness of the Child Trust Fund while cutting the cost of the programme by over two-thirds, or £388m per year.

This publications explores educational reforms that aim to place greater control in the hands of parents and increase choice within the school system, arguing they risk overlooking Looked After Children, or even increasing current disadvantage.

In 2005, the Social Market Foundation, in partnership with Bright Horizons Family Solutions, hosted two seminars exploring the implications of the government's 10 Year Strategy for childcare in the UK. This publications summarises the discussions which took place, representing an important contribution to the ongoing discussions around the Strategy.

This paper argues that we should introduce a dedicated school bus network of the type used in North America, whilst examining the educational, environmental and social benefits that would result from a network of dedicated school buses in the UK.

This paper formed part of an extensive project at the Social Market Foundation, which explored the contribution of early years to improving the life chances of disadvantaged children and their families.