A picture of NSW children: Early childhood education and care

  The latest section of the NSW Commission for Children and Young People\u27s data book, A picture of NSW children is titled \u27Early childhood education and care\u27. This release highlights the experiences of parents in finding care for their children in NSW. The statistics contained in the report show that: · 38,400 fewer children had a usual child care arrangement in 2008 than in 2005, a decrease of 4% · 68,800 fewer children used informal child care provided by extended family and friends in 2008 than in 2005, a decrease of 6.5% · 14,600 more children used formal child care services in 2008 than in 2005, an increase of 1% · more than 75 per cent of parents with children aged 0-14 years said they had difficulties finding child care in 2008. The most common difficulties were the cost of care (55%), finding care at short notice (46%) and finding care for a sick child (45%)