Lots to read in this thread & I have only skimmed so far.

Just from the persepctive of a parent - I am less concerned with education & learning in childcare than with as previously mentioned, the warmth & caring of staff. Kids have 12 years of regimented schooling & learning (in most instances) - they don't need it form the age of 1 or whatever. I am much more interested n knowing that they are safe, and that they feel safe and cared for.

I have a friend (who I met when she was DS2's carer) who often spoke of the regimented aspect to the CC system - having to do assessments, plans, to account for each activity. Another friend left the Long Day Care system to work as a Family Day Carer
and loves that she can just sit on the floor playing with the kids if that suits them all, wthout having to justify what they are doing at any given time.

Certainly there isn't going to be a one-size-fits-all solution for this.
Since we have largely lost extended families and community support in parenting, professional childcare is a must. And not only for working parents, I might add.
There's a wider issue here to do with the way our whole society is structured. We're still so stuck in the mindset that at work we are workers, we leave our families at the door.
Fundamentally, we don't value parenting. Economically speaking, I mean. As parents we know how important it is personally, but it's important to all of us that all children have the best start possible. The lifelong ramifications are enormous - education, productivity, health and so on. Parenting isn't the only factor here, but it's a big one. And it isn't something that should be done by parents alone - there's a place for the extended family, friends, neighbours, and also childcarers, but ultimately also employers and other members of the community. We all benefit from good parenting, and suffer from a lack of it.
Families need options to sort out what is best for them, and the cost should be shared by all.

I'm curious on the educational side of things - I had never expected childcare to 'teach' DS anything. I expect a safe, caring environment in which he can play and explore. The learning is incidental to that. Is this for older children? If my son were at home with me all the time I still wouldn't be teaching him things, per se
Totally agree with all of the above.