Between cantonal regulations and local implementation: Relationships between municipal characteristics and the availability of daycare services for children outside of school hours

Abstract

The responsibilities of municipalities in the field of education have expanded, in particular, provision of supplementary childcare has been added to the municipal responsibility for the provision of public schools. Many municipalities in the canton of Bern have introduced after-school and, in some cases, holiday childcare services over the last 20 years. The aim of this study is to analyse relationships between municipal characteristics and the availability of after-school and holiday care services, considering shared governance between the canton and municipalities, using a mixed-methods design. The results show that the availability of these services depends on demand, but that political attitudes and internal municipal processes also play a role.