PARENTS are being urged to help improve the quality of childcare services by responding to a market research project.

Darlington Borough Council has become the first authority to benefit from the Ceeda service, which helps to build a picture of the standard of childcare facilities.

Nurseries and other childcare providers in the area have subscribed to the Ceeda parent survey, offering their opinions on what is available and helping to raise standards in the future.

The feedback goes into a database, which allows parents' views of childcare to be analysed.

The council will benefit from the new system by having access to a constant stream of detailed information from parents.

Early Years Partnership manager Lynne Henderson said: "We feel the initiative will have several future benefits, both for our own work in planning and developing the delivery of childcare in Darlington and also for providers themselves.

"The initiative offers a unique opportunity to obtain up-to-date information on parent satisfaction with provision throughout the year, allowing a detailed picture to be built up over time."