Data shows that 64,0000 childcare places have been lost during the winter lockdowns
The availability and affordability crisis in childcare is being exacerbated by the pandemic and subsequent childcare closures.
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.
The availability and affordability crisis in childcare is being exacerbated by the pandemic and subsequent childcare closures.
WBG responds to Leader of the Labour Party Keir Starmer’s speech on his fifth ‘mission’ today.
The investment announced today by the Chancellor is an important first step in tackling the crisis in early education and childcare.
Based on revised funding rates released by the DfE, we calculated a £5bn gap in funding for the Government’s expanded childcare offer from 2025/26.