By Judith Ugwumadu | 25 July 2014
Low-income families are struggling to find good quality, affordable and flexible childcare providers, the Citizens Advice has said today as it called for councils to be given a stronger oversight role.
In a far-looking report the charity warns that, despite strong financial help for parents from government, practical problems like a lack of flexibility and no evening availability are likely to continue to be a barrier to parents who work. Two-fifths (41%) of the charity’s clients said the cost of childcare prevents them or their partner from increasing working hours or accepting a job.
Under the current system, all three and four year-olds in England are entitled to 15 hours each week for 38 weeks of the year, and some disadvantaged two year-olds are also eligible.
But, the report found in a poll of 400 childcare providers that almost a quarter (24%) of childcare providers does not offer parents the government’s 15 hours free provision, 75% of providers do not provide evening or weekend care, and one more than half require one month’s notice to change arrangements.
Citizens Advice chief executive Gillian Guy highlighted that jobs were no longer on a nine-to-five basis but childcare often is.
Although the government has shown admirable commitment in helping parents deal with the cost of raising their children, the reality is that accessing decent childcare will continue to be a barrier to parents wanting to work, Guy stated.
She said: ‘Now that the government has reduced costs, the other day-to-day barriers to childcare need to be addressed.
‘The rise of start-up Britain is a challenge and opportunity for childcare providers to offer quality services which meet changing demand.’
Citizens Advice warned that whilst rising employment levels are welcome, the emerging trends in the labour market are ‘at odds’ with services offered by childcare providers.
Indeed, evidence from the charity shows that the most suitable options for those on unstable hours are likely to be providers with poorer Ofsted ratings and would therefore be of lower quality.
Guy argued that this could have a ‘damaging impact on a child’s ability to learn and develop’.
To ensure parents get the support that they need, the charity recommends that financial support for childcare be paid in advance rather than in arrears and that councils take closer oversight of the provision of childcare in their communities.
After adopting its recommendations to increase support for low-income parents, the charity also calls on ministers to give all parents in receipt of the new Universal Credit at least 90% of the costs of their childcare and a free school meal for each child.
Commenting on the report, the Institute for Public Policy Research think-tank said reform of the childcare system would help many more families with costs, improve quality and allow families to decide how they want to balance work and care.
IPPR research director Graeme Cooke said: ‘Britain needs a universal, high-quality and affordable system of childcare, combined with reforms to parental leave.
‘That would support children’s development, boost employment rates for parents – particularly mothers – and advance gender equality.
‘Without any price controls, simply extending tax relief is unlikely to make childcare more affordable for families. We also need to raise the quality of childcare on offer.’
