4Children wants long-term childcare strategy to tackle poverty
Laura McCardle
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Government should pick up the tab for much of the cost of accessing childcare for working people on low incomes, 4Children has said.
The charity believes that by government meeting 85 per cent of childcare costs for working parents on tax credit and universal credit disadvantaged families and children would be lifted out of poverty.
The measure is included in a new report that also calls on the government to provide a universal guarantee of wraparound care for four- to 14-year-olds between 8am and 6pm.
The Childcare Guarantee report – published as part of the charity's Making Britain Great manifesto – also recommends the creation of new childcare hubs to co-ordinate childcare, and urges the government to build on its free childcare policy by upping the weekly entitlement from 15 to 25 hours for all two- to four-year-olds.
4Children chief executive Anne Longfield said a “radical shift” in childcare policy over the next decade is needed to make flexible and affordable childcare easily accessible to all families.
In particular, Longfield said change is needed to help ease the cost of living for the so-called Generation Y – those born between 1983 and 1995.
She said: “If childcare costs continue to rise as they have, this will add to the further future financial pain inflicted on today’s cash-strapped Generation Y of 19- to 31-year-olds.
“With record numbers of young people not in employment, training or education, and others in significant debt after funding their studies, many feel they cannot even contemplate the cost of starting a family.
“Today’s 20-somethings, already struggling to find work, will be the new generation of parents.
“We must put the needs of the family first and have a universal childcare guarantee for all families aged 0-14 in place during the next decade.”
Shadow childcare minister Lucy Powell said Labour’s proposals to reform childcare would address the charity’s concerns.
She said: “Labour’s plans to extend free nursery provision for three- and four-year-olds with parents in work from 15 to 25 hours will help make work pay, boost the economy and get women back to work.
“Our primary childcare guarantee will help arrange before- and after-school childcare, helping mums and dads balance work and family life.”
A spokesman for the Department for Education said existing government reforms are already improving access to childcare.
He said: "This month, the Family and Childcare Cost survey showed the cost of childcare in England has fallen for the first time in 12 years – this means more parents are able to access affordable childcare and support their families.
"We have also encouraged schools to offer more childcare and made it easier for 'good' and 'outstanding' childminders to offer free early education."
