The assumption that mothers can start formal paid work once theiryoungest child starts school needs reassessing, say researchers.
The call comes in a report on how having a baby affects women'semployment and the amount they earn compared to men. Conducted by theInstitute of Fiscal Studies for the Department for Work and Pensions itfound that nannies, mother's helps and childminders are of greater helpthan school clubs to families with children entering schools.
Liz Bayram, chief executive of the National Childminding Association'said: "This research reinforces that registered childminders and nanniesare providing the flexible, wraparound childcare that parents ofschool-age children need. This is why we were delighted the Governmentrecognised the vital contribution of childminding in its extendedschools strategy."
Maggy Meade-King, spokeswoman for Working Families, added that it showedwhy the Work and Families Bill needed amending to ensure that parents ofchildren aged above six years had the right to request flexibleworking.
"At the moment, if a mother's request for flexible working is turneddown she can turn to the Sex Discrimination Act but a father has no suchredress," she said.
The report says there is "little concrete evidence" that work outcomeschange dramatically when a mother's youngest child starts school. Infact, the gradual decline in women's wages relative to men appears tostem from the accumulation of several shorter periods of low wage growtharound the times of birth and school entry. As might be expected, theresearch also highlights other changes that take place at these timessuch as the move into part-time work and non-supervisory roles.
FACT BOX
- Newborns and New Schools: Critical Times in Women's Employment is atwww.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/rports2005-2006/rrep308.pdf
- Nannies, mother's helps and childminders are of greater help thanschool clubs to families with children entering schools.
