In Denmark we have had state-run day care for children from three months upwards since the 1970s. Without it women would not have been able to work full time.
It worked well in the 1970s when there was suitable public funding to employ the number of nurses for the little ones and kindergarten teachers for the bigger children that were needed.
Since the 1980s local authorities have tried to cut back on opening hours, staff numbers etc.
This resulted in an increase in private day-care, where, strangely enough you may only look after four children on your own. - In the nurseries they are dealing with double that number, plus a few extra tacked on. And I say dealing with advisedly, as leaving children all day in wet nappies and only changing them if their nappies are dirty, is not looking after children in my opinion.
So yes, if there is properly trained staff in sufficient numbers available, council or state run day care can be marvellous. It was in the 1970s here, but if not, it should be the last option parents choose.
The other thing to be aware of is, that once day-care exists, receiving unemployment benefit becomes conditional upon ones child being in day-care! If you look after your own child, you are not available to take a job, so no unemployment benefit.