The Great British childcare challenge

Despite great strides made to help families with childcare during the time of the Labour Government, we know there is far more to do. Cost, availability and flexibility of childcare are issues which come up time and time again when I speak to families right across the country.

That’s why Labour has set out our intent to put childcare at the top of our agenda. We understand the challenges families face – since 2010 rising prices and poor availability have made it harder for parents to make ends meet and to balance work and family time.

Labour will extend free childcare for three and four year olds with parents in work from 15 to 25 hours. This will mean that for the first time a parent will be able to work part time without having to worry about childcare costs. Worth £1500 per child this will help parents manage childcare costs, give parents stuck at home more opportunities and boost our economy. It will be a big boost to mums particularly who often can’t afford to go to work or to work the hours they want because of childcare costs.

But we mustn’t forget the crucial importance of childcare for school-age children. We often use childcare as a catch-all term but the focus for most is on pre-school. However, as a parent of one of the 600,000 children who started primary school this term I know that finding childcare to fit around school hours both during term-time and school holidays can be a logistical nightmare.

For many families, working hours don’t match school hours and it simply isn’t possible to drop off and pick up children as school starts and finishes. Parents trying to balance work and family life need alternative help at the beginning and end of the school day. Despite much talk over recent years about wraparound care, the reality for many parents is a struggle to find local, affordable before and after school care which is flexible to their working patterns.

Then there is the tricky scenario of finding childcare during the school break, a situation exacerbated by a drop in the number of holiday childcare places in the past five years. This not only leads to stress and worry for parents but also leads some to consider giving up work. We know that there is a considerable demand for more access to before and after school clubs in schools. A recent poll conducted by the charity 4Children showed that more than 80% of parents of children attending schools without breakfast and after school clubs would like to see this in their children’s schools. Despite this very clear demand one in five primary schools do not provide any before or after school childcare or activities.

Labour will stand up for families of school age children wrestling with the childcare challenge too. We will introduce a primary childcare guarantee which will give parents the right to wraparound childcare in their school or nearby from 8am-6pm.  I want to see innovation and quality provision in this offer with schools working with local authorities, childminders and other providers to give parents and children real choice and flexibility. Very often children are already doing extra-curricular activities like swimming, art, music, football or dance, but parents struggle to leave work to reach school to pick up and drop them off at these other activities. Schools and local authorities will need to be creative to help parents bridge these gaps.

Labour is the Party of childcare – we have a proud record but there is still lots more to do. Until every parent has the choice to take a job that pays; until every mum can return to work and not suffer a pay and status penalty; until every child has the best start in life we will not rest. 

Extending free childcare for working parents will help them make ends meet. A guarantee of wraparound care will tackle the problems parents face finding reliable before-and-after school care. Helping families with childcare will remain at the top of our agenda as we move towards the general election. It’s time for a childcare revolution.

Lucy Powell
Shadow Childcare Minister and Labour and Co-operative MP for Manchester Central

As party conference season gets under way, this is the first in our series of blogs from the main Westminster political parties. Lucy Powell MP, Shadow Minister for Childcare kicks off by setting out Labour's vision for childcare. The next blog will be written by Jo Swinson MP. Please note the opinions expressed here are the views of the author and do not reflect the views and policies of 4Children.

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