The Brussels Capital Region counts some 46,000 children under three and has a childcare capacity of some 20,500 authorised places. With a coverage rate of 44.3%, the Brussels Region is close to the European standard (45%). Although not all young children need childcare, access remains difficult for certain groups, partly because of the differences in supply between municipalities/neighbourhoods, the rates charged, as well as other characteristics that determine accessibility. This study, for which the report is currently being finalised, first presents a multi-dimensional definition of accessibility (geographic, financial, social/cultural, practical and in terms of comprehensibility), followed by a diagnosis of the regional supply in light of this definition.
First, a cartography of the geographical and financial accessibility of the various childcare facilities is drawn up, taking into account the characteristics of both the demand (where do most young children live and what is their socio-economic profile) and the supply (where do we find the largest supply and what rate do they apply). On this basis, a typology is proposed regarding the accessibility of the Brussels childcare facilities. Information on other aspects of accessibility, as collected through a survey of some 190 childcare facilities (French-speaking and Dutch-speaking), is then linked to these different groups of facilities.
The study is being carried out on behalf of perspective.brussels.