Call for more childcare support for parents in the capital

3 November 2011 1 min read Janaki Mahadevan Early Years Childminding Early years education Nurseries

Parents in London would benefit from local networks of out-of-hours childcare providers and a loan scheme to cover the upfront cost of provision, London Assembly members have been told.

At a meeting of the London Assembly’s health and public services committee, members were told about barriers parents face when attempting to access childcare in the capital.

Organisations giving evidence at the session said families in London are more reliant on formal childcare than those living in other parts of the UK and face above average costs.

Vidhya Alakeson, research and strategy director at think-tank Resolution Foundation, said a loan schemes that would allow parents to cover fees paid in advance to secure a nursery or childminder place could help make childcare more affordable for families.

Daycare Trust chief executive Anand Shukla added that a scheme that matches parents with registered childminders and nursery staff willing to look after children between 6am and 11pm, usually in the child’s own home, should be replicated across the capital.

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