Finding affordable, flexible and high quality childcare remains a massive challenge for most parents.
Despite significant investment by Governments over the last 15 years, many families still have a perception that the childcare system is stacked against them. For some, the practicalities of rigid opening hours just don’t meet their needs, whereas others are simply constrained from finding quality care by the high costs vis-a-vis their own disposable income.
Research by 4Children earlier this year found that affordable childcare is one of the single most important things that would make a positive difference to their lives. Our recent figures showed that 40 per cent of parents with primary school aged children, many starting for the first time, were struggling to get childcare for their children. As their children returned to school, nearly half of these were considering giving up their job or intending to do so as a result. Whichever way you look at it the statistics keep on coming. Estimates suggest that a quarter of parents are getting into debt as a result of high childcare costs. 67% of parents are limited in their ability to work because of a combination of lack of available childcare and inflexibility of employers. The IPPR calculates that a five percentage point increase in the maternal employment rate which could generate £750 million a year in benefit savings and tax revenue. We all know that this takes time and that places like Scandanavia began their journey 50 years ago. So why don’t we get on with it and offer families the kind of reliable support they need?
Firstly, the current ‘offer’ and commitments must be acknowledged. The last Labour government delivered universal childcare for three and four year olds for 15 hours a week which was a major investment and one that has transformed children’s early years in this country forever. Major development programmes created more out of school childcare places and established ground breaking Children’s Centres and the support with childcare costs through the tax credit system established a new precedent for making childcare affordable. Add in the extension of free places for 40% of two year olds and the new Early Years Pupil Premium now in place and Labour’s commitment to extending to 25 hours of free childcare for three and four years where both parents are working and requiring schools to extend their hours to provide childcare, and the extent of the potential investment to childcare starts to become clear. Significant amounts of public funds are now being invested. Why then do so many parents still feel that finding and paying for childcare is an uphill battle. And why are so many limited in their employment and family life as a result?
The answer is partly due to the lack of coordination around childcare that is still the reality in most communities. Yes childcare support is available but it depends on the age of the child, your income, where you live, the hours you work and whether any childcare providers are operating in the areas you want them. There may be free hours for your three and four year old but this is likely to radically change when they reach their fifth birthday. There is a real need for much more joined-up leadership locally – to identify gaps and develop new provision in response. There is also a real need to develop more childcare in disadvantaged areas. 4Children would suggest this could be in the third of Children’s Centres who say that they could provide more childcare if asked.
The second is around flexibility. Jobs have changed radically over the last 20 years with more of us now working atypical hours than the traditional 9–5. The growth of shift working, second jobs, zero hours contracts, all mean that families need more than the traditional 8–6 childcare. Working arrangements can change rapidly and families need a much more blended and flexible offer. 4Children is bringing together childcare provision around childcare hubs to offer just this and this is the kind of new model and approach we need to see happening.
The final issue affordability. A lot of money is invested in childcare but it is still beyond the reach of many parents. Any long term plan will need to incrementally change the balance of paying for childcare for the state to take on a more equal role. Much good can be achieved by making more co-ordinated use of the funds already invested but more will be need to be built in over time.
So is universal childcare possible without large amounts of new money? Definitely yes. There is so much that can be achieved by combining greater leadership, co-ordination, alignment and new and extended investment. And there is also some time.
Families understand that change does not happen overnight but they do want to know that it is coming. That’s why a ten year plan is needed to get there, radically transforming the support available, and delivering a universal childcare guarantee from 0-14. A new and dynamic approach that aligns with the diverse needs of parents across the nation. This needs to be staged, beginning by extending the two-year old free entitlement to all children, and to one-year olds to cover the period after parental leave ends. Alongside, the Early Years Pupil Premium needs to be brought up the same level as the in-school Pupil Premium to help the most disadvantaged and improve quality. The number of hours of free entitlement should be increased up from 15 to 25 hours, beginning with 3 and 4 year olds, and then extending to younger children. And, for school-age children, it means requiring schools to open their doors throughout the year from 8-6pm to allow provision of before-and-after school care and holiday activities and providing subsidy.
Families are the bedrocks of our society. If we want to make Britain great for families it is vital that we provide them with the universal childcare guarantee they need.
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Anne Longfield OBE is chief executive of 4Children, the national charity for children and families. The charity, which is due to host a fringe event at this year’s Labour party conference, runs around 100 children’s centres used by tens of thousands of families across the country.
The charity is set to launch a new manifesto calling on political parties to commit to developing a childcare guarantee for all children from infancy until the age of 14 by 2025
For more information about 4Children and its work visit www.4children.org.uk