Project Abstract

Childcare services in the United Kingdom play a vital role in supporting working families, yet existing platforms present challenges for users, particularly non-native speakers and immigrant households unfamiliar with the UK system. While many platforms offer user-friendly interfaces and diverse services, they often impose additional fees and lack language filtering options, which limits accessibility for international users. This project investigates current childcare service websites, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses to identify areas for improvement. The research aims to propose enhancements to existing childcare platforms that better accommodate diverse family structures, ensuring simplified navigation and improved accessibility for all users. The core research question explores how childcare platforms can enhance inclusivity, reduce service barriers, and optimise filtering options to support non-native speakers and newcomers to the UK childcare system. The study examines interface design, accessibility features, mapping, and filtering technologies to assess their impact on usability and childminder search efficiency. Additionally, it evaluates Leaflet.js for real-time route mapping and Ngrok for hosting accessibility, considering their potential to improve childcare service availability. Early findings suggest that language accessibility, intuitive booking systems, and transparent pricing are essential for improving childcare services. By integrating mapping, advanced filtering, and hosting solutions, the platform aims to streamline childcare selection and enhance accessibility, particularly for immigrant households. This study is expected to guide improvements for existing childcare platforms, demonstrating how inclusive functionalities can reduce barriers and optimize accessibility. These recommendations could help reshape childcare services, making them more efficient and user-friendly for diverse family structures.

Keywords: Hosting and Accessibility, Filtering and Booking System, Mapping and Routing System

 Conference Details

Session: B

Location: Sir Stanley Clarke Auditorium at 13:30 15:30

Markers: Solmaz Safari, Markus Roggenbach

Course: BSc Computer Science 3yr FT

Future Plans: I’m looking for work