Unit 11 Research Project Child Minders Assignment

Program	Diploma in Business
Unit Number and Title	Unit 11 Research Project Child Minders
QFC Level	Level 4

Task 1: - Understand how to formulate a research specification

Project title:

“Child-minder’s or Nursery”

Background:

Child minders and Nurseries are service providers in order to take care of the children on behalf of parents. Their staff members are professionals and take effective care of the children. Working parents having problems to take care of their children because after the birth of their children they have to join their jobs back. In this situation they require someone who takes care of their children. In this situation child minders and nurseries came into action as they are specialised in taking care of children’s. Child minders are personal take carers whereas nurseries is professional place where number of children are there and staff members are engaged into taking care of these children (Frith, 2012).

Aims and Objectives:

The aim of this research study is to select the best from Child-minder and Nursery. In order to attain the aim there are certain objectives need to be achieved such as: -

• Evaluate the merits and demerits rendered by the Child-minder.
• Evaluate the pros and cons of Nursery.
• Evaluate the difference between facilities rendered by Child-minder and Nursery (Frith, 2012).

Research questions:

There are few questions need to be set in order to get the adequate information with the help of study such as: -

• Is there is any difference in the service level rendered by the child minders and nurseries?
• Why nurseries environment is much effective as compare to child minders?
• Is the development of nurseries children is much effective as compare to child minders children? (Frith, 2012)

Literature review

Child minders and nurseries are effective service provider in order to take care of children’s such parents where both (father & mother) are working. Nursery is the place where lots of staff members along with number of children present in order to render and get services in effective manner. On the other hand child minders are personalised service providers as they provide their services at their home only and render personalised attention to the children. Both have their pros and cons in effective manner and on the basis of the comfort level parents chose the option for their children (Goldsborough, et. al., 2016).

Methodology:

The methods, tools and technologies utilised in order to process the research study get discussed below in adequate manner. There is effective set of tools utilised for the purpose of gathering information, its analysis and other things in order to extract the required information from it. Information is gathered from different sources and gets arranged in adequate manner so that it gets analysed well on time in order to attain current & effective information from it (P. & Bellamy, 2012).

Limitations:

There are various limitations associated with the research study that become hurdles or barriers in the progress of the research study. These limitations make inclusion of availability of limited time period, limited finance facility, and limited excess to different sources to gather information and many more (P. & Bellamy, 2012).

Ethical issues:

There are certain  ethical issues  that need to be followed in order to make the research study ethical. The data utilised in the study must be cited in order to make it authenticated. While data collection asks the questions related to the topic only. Took prior approvals or permission in order to gather information related to the topic from different sources (P. & Bellamy, 2012).

Research time frame:

Activity	Description	Duration
A	Topic selection and ground research	2 weeks
B	Preparing documents and data collection	4 weeks
C	Arranging data and analysis	4 weeks
D	Data presentation	1 week
E	Conclusion, recommendation and submission	2 weeks

Gantt chart: -

Task 2: - Be able to implement the research project within agreed procedures and to specification

Literature review

Working parents having a concern related to the care of their children and this concern results into sleepless nights. While choosing the adequate option in order to bringing up the child it is very essential to evaluate all available options in order to get adequate level of information related to the option. The available options make inclusion of stay-at-home parent, live-in nanny, informal arrangements such as friends or relatives, child-minder or nursery. Earlier mothers take care of their children by their own as they didn’t have to go offices or continue their jobs. But due to the increase in the expenditure and other requirements it is essential required by them to do jobs and earn adequate amount in order to support their functioning. When both the parents are working then care of child becomes problematic situation for them (O'Connell, 2011).

Before sending to the care providers it is very important for them to become confident and feel safe related to the childcare. They need to make sure that their child will get effective care and get adequate development facilities and the environment must be safe, happy and healthy for them. Parents don’t choose that option which makes them unsatisfied. All childcare render these options to the parents but there are few issues are also associated with this such as cost, flexibility and relationships. During evaluating other factors in context to the childcare they must need to evaluate these factors also because these become essential features at the time of getting their services. By involving all available factors helps in reducing stress, confusion and guilt among the parents as they not able to provide care services to their children by their own (O'Connell, 2011).

Nursery:

These are care homes run by professional care service providers. They run adequate size of batches for different age group in order to facilitate them adequate level of services to fulfil needs and wants of children. They attain specialised group of professionals in order to render adequate care to the children and satisfy their parents by fulfilling the need and want of children. For under 12 months child parents search for full-time child care for them nursery is better place as they render adequate level of services to them in order to contribute adequate services in their development. Staff didn’t put many efforts in order to handle these kinds of children as they didn’t make them irritate, either they sleep or play and very less time they cry or getting upset (Canning, 2010). There are various pros and cons of nursery which get discussed below such as:

Pros of nursery are as follows such as: -

• Staff members are effectively trained professionals in order to render safe, secure and healthy environment and play a vital role in the development of the children.
• At nursery child perform various activities on daily basis and they get encouraged socially, creativity, develop effective communication and listening skills and physical development (Canning, 2010).
• Child gets adequate chance to learn and play in group which make them social in effective manner. By learning in groups help them in building adequate level of confidence as well as social skills.
• Child performs various activities on daily basis which help them in making adequate level of development physically as well as mentally.
• Getting nursery for child help the parents in order to get tax relaxations or tax credits which help them financially.
• It is safe and reliable to get nursery under different kinds of childcare service providers.
• Immediate carer makes healthy conversation with the parents in context to the child activities and learning’s (Canning, 2010).

Cons of nursery are as follows such as: -

• There are some effective cons are associated with the nursery such as: -
• Nurseries are not much flexible as they have set time periods of opening and closing due to which parents need to perform their activities accordingly.
• Some nurseries get closed for a week or two week at that time parents face adequate problem in caring their child (Fletcher, 2010).
• Child must not habit of receive one-to-one care services as it is not possible for staff to render these kinds of services to child.
• Child didn’t get personalised focus from the care provider.
• It is not easy to associate with best nursery in order to render care to children (Fletcher, 2010).

Child-minder: -

Child-minders are such individuals who perform their activities at home only. They render services to 3 or less children at a time under the age of 5 years. Child-minders are flexible enough in order to provide effective care to the children. They manage small size of batches in order to provide adequate care to the child. They are also highly educated, skilled, trained and specialised professionals and also get verified from the UK authorities such as Ofsted and others (Roberts, 2011). There is adequate number of pros and cons are associated with it which gets discussed below such as:

Pros associated with the child-minder such as: -

• Child get small group due to which they get attentive care and with this effect their needs and wants get fulfilled in effective manner.
• Child-minders having mixed aged group and with this effect child get a chance to meet and act with different age group children’s
• Child-minders having adequate social group which help them out in rendering flexible services to the parents and their child.
• Child get adequate chances of learning and developing skills same as other children get in other childcare homes.
• Child-minders get inspected on regular basis which make sure that they provide adequate quality services to the users (Roberts, 2011).
• Child-minders provide effective flexibility to the parents in order to pick-up and drop-off facility. Sometime they stretch out with the child in case of need or emergency.
• Child gets personalised and attentive care form the child-minders.

Cons of child-minders are discussed below such as: -

• In the absence of adequate alternative of child-minder parents need to take care of their child by their own.
• If child-minder renders care service to child with her children then it might be possibility that she may render preferential treatment to her child. It makes the parents uncomfortable and unsatisfied with the care services rendered by child-minders (Hayes, 2010).
• If child-minder is having emergency or problem with them parents need to arrange care provider by their own or they have to take of their child by their own.
• These pros and cons make adequate level of differentiation among the two and it can be concluded that parents must need to choose the nursery for their children (Hayes, 2010).

Methodology

The methods, tools and technologies utilised in order to process the research study get discussed below in adequate manner. There is effective set of tools utilised for the purpose of gathering information, its analysis and other things in order to extract the required information from it.

Research approach:

There are two different approaches are available in order to gather data such as: -

• Qualitative approach: This approach deals in getting the theoretical information from the different sources and these set of information already analysed and utilised in order to get adequate information from it (Mackey & Gass, 2015).
• Quantitative approach: This approach deals in getting statistical information from the different sources. This helps in getting raw data which provide information related to current trend in order to make effective evaluation (Mackey & Gass, 2015).
• Research method: Effective and adequate methods are available in three different forms such as mono method, mixed method and multiple methods. For the research study purpose mixed method is utilised where both approaches get utilised for data collection. With the use of it adequate analysis is performed over the  information and knowledge  gathered and helps in extracting adequate level of data from it which helps in satisfying the need of research (Noble & Bestley, 2011).

Data collection:

In order to gather the data there are two types of sources are available such as:

• Primary sources: It is such source of information in which population is targeted in effective manner. Then survey or interview is conducted over the targeted population with the use of questionnaire or set of questions in order to gather the information in adequate manner. The information gathered from this source get termed as primary data and it requires adequate level of analysis and evaluation before utilising it for answering set research questions (Habib, et. al., 2014).
• Secondary sources: It is such source of information from where information is gathered after getting adequate level of permission or approvals. Sources may include different websites, etc. The information gathered from this source get termed as secondary information and get utilised directly in the evaluation process as it is already analysed (Habib, et. al., 2014).

Limitations:

There are various limitations associated with the research study that become hurdles or barriers in the progress of the research study. These limitations make inclusion of availability of limited time period, limited finance facility, and limited excess to different sources to gather information and many more (Habib, et. al., 2014).

Record of data:

Data gathered is arranged properly for the purpose of making effective analysis in adequate manner. The analysed data get represented in the form of tables, charts and graphs in order to provide adequate level of information to the users. The motive of representing the extracted information in the form of tables and graphs to make the viewer’s understand the information effectively as this method is self-explanatory (Noble & Bestley, 2011).

Task 3: - Be able to evaluate the research outcomes

Analysis of gathered data:

Under this section the data gathered with the use of questionnaire is arranged and get analysed in effective manner. Random sampling method is utilised for the purpose of getting sample out of the gathered data so that adequate and effective analysis is made over the data. They took 10 responses as sample out of 50 responses gathered. Below is the analysis of the data such as: -

Table 1: - Nurseries are much safer than child-minders.

Analysis: The majority of the responses made by the mother’s shows that they are highly satisfied with the services rendered by the nurseries. They share their opinion that they feel nurseries are much safer as compare to child-minders (O'Connell, 2010).

Table 2: - There is high level of confidence over nursery staff.

Analysis: - Majority of the respondent mothers are in the favour of the statement as they highly trust the staff of the nurseries. They have high confidence in the nurseries staff members because they hire professionals in order to take care of children and perform their activities on large scale as their batch size is much higher as compare to child-minders (O'Connell, 2010).

Table 3: - Environment of nursery provides early education to the children that helps in their overall development.

Analysis: - Majority of the mothers are agreed with the statement as they believe that what children learn at nurseries help them in their development. The staff’s members of nurseries render them adequate knowledge such as how to behave, how to respond, etc. These are basic learning’s for the children and helps in their overall growth (Handley, 2010).

Table 4: - There is adequate difference between the fee structure of nursery and child-minders.

Analysis: - As per the responses made by the mothers it is observed majority of mothers agreed with the statement that there is adequate difference in the fees structure of nurseries and child minders. The charges demanded by the child minders are little bit higher as they render personalised services in order to take care of children (Handley, 2010).

Table 5: - Nursery environment is much beneficial for the development of the children.

Analysis: - As per the respondent mothers it is analysed that the environment provided by the nurseries to the children is much beneficial for their initial development. The environment provided by the child minders is not effective as they take care of children at home only where they didn’t get much to learn (Petrie, 2011).

Table 6: - There is no so much difference in the staff of nurseries and child-minders.

Analysis: - When it is asked to the mothers as is there is any difference among the staff member of child minders and nurseries. They responses that there is no such difference are identified between the staff of both the service providers (Petrie, 2011).

Table 7: - There is no such impact made by the nurseries and child-minders over the behaviour of child.

Analysis: - Mothers didn’t get agreed with the statement as the nurseries and child minders put adequate impact over the behaviour of the children. The environment of these care providers put adequate impact over their behaviour because they learn what they see at these areas. Children get different learning at nursery premises through their staff members and other children. In child minders staff renders adequate learning to the children as per their experience (Emil, 2010).

Table 8: - Child minders render personal attention to the children which is essentially required by the child.

Analysis: - As per the responses made by the mothers in context to the statement that child essentially requires personal attention most. And child minders are specialised in providing personal attention to the children during their care services. They provide personalised care services to the children and render personalised attention to them in fulfilling their needs and wants in adequate manner (Emil, 2010).

Table 9: - Child in nursery become more socialise as compare to the child with child-minders.

Analysis: - As per the responses made by the mothers in context to the statement it is analyse that majority of them agreed with the statement. They agreed that children at nurseries face various children on daily basis which make them more socialise as they interact with them in effective manner, share things adequately and learn various things such as respect, being polite and many more (Jones, et. al., 2015).

Table 10: - There are no difference among such children whose care is made by parents and children whose care is made by nurseries and child-minders.

Analysis: - Mothers or respondents are not agreed with the statement rendered as there is adequate difference present among the children taken care by parents and children taken care by nurseries or child minders. Children taken care by parents must be somewhat sophisticated and having some family morals on the other hand children taken care by nurseries or child minders become more socialise and effective as compare to them (Jones, et. al., 2015).

Recommendation for the research questions

As per the information gathered related to the topic there are few recommendations made such as: -

• Parents need to take care of their children as much as they can otherwise some negative feelings gets raised among them.
• Before sending children to the nurseries parents need to evaluate the impact of other children.
• Parents need to evaluate the environment of the nurseries before sending their children to them.
• Parents need to examine the behaviour and activities of the child minders as they provide their services at their homes in order to safeguard their children as well as their house also (Ainy, 2014).
• Parents need to evaluate the available services of the child minders and the nurseries before rendering their child to them. With the help of comparison they select the adequate option in order to facilitate their children.
• Except office timing parents must have to spend their most of time with their children in order to make them feel valued and considered.
• Parents need to evaluate the behaviour of children after they return from the nurseries (Ainy, 2014).

Answers to the research questions:

With the help of the adequate gathered information below research questions get answered in effective manner such as: -

Is there is any difference in the service level rendered by the child minders and nurseries?

Yes there is adequate level of difference among the service level rendered by the child minders and nurseries. Nurseries provide various toys to the children in order to play, due to number of children available they learn to share things and many more. But in child minders children get the limited toys to play which are available at their houses, they didn’t learn to share the things as there is no one present at their home whom with they share their things (Dudek, 2013).

Why nurseries environment is much effective as compare to child minders?

The environment of nurseries is much effective as compare to child minders because there are lots of children are present at a time at one place. Children play together, share together and learn lots of things by remaining together. The environment of nurseries helps them to make effective development during their initial growth.

Is the development of nurseries children is much effective as compare to child minders children?

Yes the development of nurseries children is much effective as compare to child minders children due to the environment provided by them to their children. In nurseries children get company of lot many children’s and learn various things automatically. On the other hand children grown under the care of child minders didn’t get such environment they are alone or two or three children at a time and didn’t get much opportunities in order to learn different things. The children of nurseries are much socialising as compare to the children’s of child minders (Clark, 2014).

Further consideration

There is adequate level of future consideration is available as research can be processed further in context to evaluate the impact of nurseries and child minders over the behaviour of the children. Research is also processed in order to evaluate the level of socialism among the children taking services of nurseries and child minders (Clark, 2014).

Task 4: - Be able to represent the research outcomes

Conclusion

After making adequate discussion over the effective topics it is concluded that research study is get executed in successful manner. The successful execution is evaluated on the basis of the answers rendered in context to the set research questions. The research questions are answered by the gathered information in adequate manner. As per the research it is concluded that mothers (or parents) effectively prefer the services rendered by the Nurseries. The main reasons behind choosing nursery for their child are they examine that there are various children already taking their services and enjoying their time. They adequately examine the environment and other things before taking their services for their child. It became important to evaluate the environment and other factors because it put direct impact over child’s behaviour and mentality. Mothers didn’t prefer much to child minders as compare to the nurseries because they render personalised services only and their children didn’t get to learn various things which they effectively get to learn at nursery premises.

References

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