Spring Budget 2023: Gender and Early Education and Childcare
A pre-budget briefing on 'Gender and Early Education and Childcare' from the UK Women’s Budget Group – Spring 2023
Consultation Response
The Women’s Budget Group submitted written evidence to the Education Select Committee’s inquiry on “support for childcare and the early years”.
The Women’s Budget Group submitted written evidence to the Education Select Committee’s inquiry on “support for childcare and the early years”.
Early education and childcare is not working for anyone. Not for children, not for parents, not for early education professionals and not for the economy.
Early education and childcare is unaffordable as wages are not keeping up with the high costs. At the same time, the current system of Government support is not working as the take up of support for parents on low income is low.
The absence of flexible, affordable early education and childcare is a huge barrier to tackling inequality. The rapid privatisation of early education and childcare in England with 84% now delivered by for-profit providers leaves some children in poorer neighbourhoods and children with special educational needs and disabilities without any provision at all – with potentially lasting impacts on the attainment gap.
The combination of lack of availability and high childcare costs can block parents’ access to employment. More than half of non-working mothers in England would prefer to be in paid work if they could arrange the right childcare.
Working conditions and wages in the sector are poor. The early education and childcare workforce (which is 98% female) is among the lowest paid in the labour market.
Short-term:
Medium-term:
Long-term:
The Government must invest in a universal and free system, delivered as a public infrastructure service. While the upfront investment is significant, almost all of it is recouped through higher tax revenue due to the returns on increased maternal employment and reduced spending on means-tested benefits.
A pre-budget briefing on 'Gender and Early Education and Childcare' from the UK Women’s Budget Group – Spring 2023
A pre-budget briefing on 'Childcare and gender' from the UK Women’s Budget Group – Spring 2022
Estimated shortfall in the Government's budget to cover the real cost of provision
The WBG urges the Prime Minister to invest in the care economy for the economic recovery of the whole country.