Use empty tube and rail buildings for childcare, Sadiq Khan urged

A report presented to Khan by child poverty campaigners 4in10 details how many families in London are currently unable to access free and affordable places. 

It calls for Greater London Authority (GLA) and Transport for London (TfL) land and empty buildings to be made available for extra nursery provision, as part of a raft of recommendations to improve childcare in the capital.

In addition to being asked to explore the possibility of using empty properties for childcare purposes, the campaign group wants a guarantee in place that any new schools built on GLA or TfL land to include nursery provision.

The Inner City Pressures report states that the mayor "must use [his] profile and influence to drive childcare expansion and innovation as a key priority on London's agenda".

"Working with councils, childcare providers parents and employers locally and regionally, the mayor can foster innovative childcare solutions and mobilise underused assets in communities, including TfL and GLA spaces," it adds.

The report states poorer families are finding it especially hard to access places as many providers are unable to offer free places as parents are less likely to buy additional hours.

Department for Education figures cited in the report show that in London only 46 per cent of eligible two-year-olds accessed free childcare in 2014/15, compared with an average of 58 per cent across England.

The report also charts the soaring cost of childcare that London families face, with fees for a nursery place for a child over the age of two rising by 65 per cent between 2008 and 2016.

Other recommendations are that councils should offer business rate discounts as an incentive to childcare providers to offer free places.

Khan is also being urged to set up a "universal childcare trust" for London, to leverage funding from central government and employers to help boost supply, quality and affordability of places as well as fund training.