Broken Britain in Childcare Crisis
The picture says it all. A new narrative is needed!
The Telegraph published an article on 11th July about the crisis that childcare has become. Mothers at Home Matter knows this is far more nuanced than the expense and a staff shortage. What do parents and children actually want and need? Our Chair, Anne Fennell, wrote a response.
Dear Sir,
The article yesterday ‘Broken Britain is in a childcare crisis’ tells only half a story. The other half of the story is kept well under wraps and has never seen the light of day.
“In 2018,” the article states, “Save the Children estimated that there were more than 870,000 stay-at-home mums in England who would prefer to work if they could access childcare that was affordable, reliable and convenient.” This figure amounted to half of all economically inactive mothers. And yet when one looks at the source of this statistic www.gov.uk/government/statistics/childcare-and-early-years-survey-of-parents-2017, this is what one finds:
“Parents who did not use any childcare in the past year (neither formal nor informal) tended not to use childcare out of choice, rather than due to constraints. For example, two-thirds (68%) of parents not using childcare said they would rather look after their children themselves, while the affordability of childcare was mentioned by fewer parents (12%) (Table 5.2). These proportions are in line with those recorded in 2014- 15 (65% and 12% respectively).”
When one looks at the corresponding table, only a fraction state cost as a constraint.
Another survey was conducted by the Department for Education 2018-19. The results were similar. When working mothers of children 0-4 were asked the question: “If I could arrange good quality childcare which was convenient, reliable and affordable I would work more hours?” Only 29% either agreed or strongly agreed with this as opposed to 58% who disagreed or strongly disagreed with this. Likewise when asked “If I could afford it, I would work fewer hours so I could spend more time looking after my children.” the overwhelming majority agreed with this statement.
There is no doubt childcare is in crisis. Families are struggling. The need for money is one of the main reasons mothers go back to work. But without the whole picture we will never solve the childcare crisis or give families what they really want or need. And what about the children? What do they want or need?
Yours sincerely,
Anne Fennell
Chair, Mothers at Home Matter
The full survey and tables by Department for Education can be found here: www.gov.uk/government/statistics/childcare-and-early-years-survey-of-parents-2017
www.gov.uk/government/statistics/childcare-and-early-years-survey-of-parents-2019