Most councils ‘failing to provide enough childcare’

6 Mar 13
There are still big gaps in childcare provision in the UK despite councils’ obligations to ensure adequate services, according to a survey published today.

By Vivienne Russell | 6 March 2013

There are still big gaps in childcare provision in the UK despite councils’ obligations to ensure adequate services, according to a survey published today.

In England, 80% of local authorities responding to the Childcare costs survey 2013 reported insufficient childcare for children aged two and under. Almost half (47%) said there was not enough care for three- to four-year-olds.

Only 16% of councils said they had adequate levels of care for children aged between 12 and 14 and only 14% reported enough suitable care for disabled children.

In Wales, the situation was worse, with almost two-thirds (62%) of councils reporting childcare shortages for three- to four-year-olds and three-quarters for children aged two and under. No councils in Wales said there was sufficient childcare for 12 to 14-year-olds or disabled children.

The survey, published by the Daycare Trust/Family & Parenting Institute, said: ‘Nearly two-thirds of local authorities in England do not have sufficient childcare for working parents, despite the very clear obligations of the Childcare Act 2006.

‘The survey results suggest that local authorities are failing to comply with sufficiency duties in the Childcare Act 2006 and that parents and central government need to hold local authorities to account for this.’

But the Local Government Association said it was ‘incorrect’ to say councils had a duty to provide childcare. It added that councils were working with childcare providers and parents to ensure good levels of provision. The LGA has been lobbying for an end to government regulations that often stand in the way of new childcare facilities, said David Simmonds, chair of the association’s children and young people board.

He added: ‘Short of an increase in funding, the best way to improve the availability of affordable childcare would be for government to allow local areas to arrange care which fits the needs of the parents and children who use it instead of being limited by national guidelines which make it difficult for providers to expand.’

The survey also highlighted the rising costs of childcare, noting that prices had risen by 6% in the last year, almost twice the rate of inflation. A nursery place now costs 77% more in real terms than it did in 2003, while earnings have stagnated.

Anand Shukla, chief executive of the Daycare Trust/Family & Parenting Institute, said: ‘Childcare is as essential as food and heating for working families. Yet while wages stay still and childcare becomes more expensive, it’s increasingly difficult for parents – and mothers in particular – to make work pay.

‘We urge the government in this year’s Budget to find ways to support parents with the costs of childcare – without compromising quality.’


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