With the pound in people’s pockets likely to be a hot topic of the general election in 2015 and the cost of childcare escalating, the availability of childcare and childcare costs are issues being taken seriously by all political parties. The last Labour government had a record to be proud of when it comes to childcare policy – with the introduction of free childcare for two, three and four-year-olds and vital help with childcare costs through tax credits. But the party must look forwards, not backwards, in formulating its 2015 offer to parents providing a vision of support capable of meeting the needs of families in the future.
The governing parties have started to set out their stall with an expansion of free early education for disadvantaged two-year-olds, more help for families on low incomes who claim universal credit and a new tax free voucher for those on moderate, middle and higher incomes. Labour must now decide on its priorities. Some including the IPPR have argued that the priority should be to expand the universal childcare offer. Options include increasing the number of hours offered for three- and four-year-olds to better support working parents, or making the two-year-old offer universal. Others have recognized the gap that currently exists for parents with school aged children and are urging action there. Finally, given Ed Miliband’s focus on the cost of living crisis being experienced by many families there is a strong argument to be made for putting more money into parents’ pockets to help them meet the rocketing costs of care, matching or modifying the government’s proposals. All of these ideas have real merit.
However, 4Children would argue that Labour should be bold and ambitious on this issue and before honing down on specific policy proposals think about what the goal is. A society where parents feel able to make decisions about their childcare and working arrangements based on what they want for their family, not feeling like they have to accept the least worst option. Where women are not effectively forced out of the labour market because childcare costs wipe out their wages. Where the prospect of the six week summer break no longer fills working parents with dread – requiring military style logistical organisation. Where every child gets a high quality early education that supports their development and ensures they can make the most of school when the time comes.
Any significant expansions in childcare support come with significant price tags (though we must get better at quantifying the value that rising parental employment and a reduction in ‘downshifting’ by women might add to the economy).But that should not dissuade ambition. Labour was successful in the past because it was prepared to look beyond one parliament to a longer term plan, with staging posts along the way. The Ten Year Childcare Strategy did just that. It must do the same again.
But the good news is there are also changes to the way that support is organised and accessed that do not cost the earth but can provide real additional support for parents. One proposal we will be urging all political parties to adopt is 4Children’s model of a Community Childcare Hub, currently being trialed in six areas. Hubs aim to create a new, replicable model of high quality ‘blended’ childcare which is capable of providing working families with the flexibility they need to balance their work and home commitments whilst helping to improve quality and sustainability. Parents will be able to access childcare from a nursery, an out of school club, a childminder, or a mix; from one coordinated source. The pilots aim to get away from the often fragmented system we currently have which sees providers working in isolation, and parents struggling to find out about vacancies and having to put together their own emergency arrangements when life throws up unexpected challenges.
As we approach the next general election, all political parties must come forward with significant childcare plans if they are to meet parents’ needs and expectations. There will be a significant political dividend for the party that gets it right.
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Anne Longfield is the chief executive of 4Children and will be speaking at a joint event being held at Labour party conference: ‘Childcare: what choice is best for working families?’
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Photo: Kate Lundy