Advice queries about early years provision doubled in the last year.
The challenge of finding and maintaining affordable childcare is restricting parents’ working lives, reveals new research from Citizens Advice.
The research, to be published later this month and based on in-depth interviews with twenty working parents, finds that any changes to work or childcare arrangements can prove costly. Impacts on working parents can include:
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Having to work fewer hours, leading to decreased household income.
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Damage to long term career goals as progression at work is held back.
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Strain on relationships if friends or family are asked to step in and look after children at the last minute.
The number of people turning to Citizens Advice for help with early years provision has doubled to almost 1,200 in the last year.
The report also highlights the opportunities for employers to be more supportive of working parents who face an inflexible childcare market. Where possible allowing parents to adjust their working hours or days, or work some hours from home can help them to find and retain the childcare they need.
The new findings come as the Government this week put forward its new Childcare Bill, allowing working parents to access 30 hours of free childcare a week for three and four-year-olds.
Citizens Advice is warning that unless the scheme is properly funded and childcare providers are encouraged to offer more flexibility many working parents who need the scheme most will miss out.
Gillian Guy, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, said:
“The lives of working parents are being held hostage by childcare. As the number of in-work parents rises it is vital that the childcare market adapts to meet growing demand. The growth of fluctuating work patterns means many parents now need more flexible childcare arrangements. Employers’ understanding and flexibility is also crucial.
"Without the right childcare in place parents’ work choices are limited, which can make it harder for them to support their family. It is good news that free childcare is being extended, but providers must be properly funded to offer the 30 hours per week. The Government also needs to work with childcare providers to deliver more flexibility, to fit around the people’s changing working lives.”
Previous analysis of the childcare market by Citizens Advice in July 2014 showed that:
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24 per cent of childcare providers do not offer parents the Government’s 15 hours’ free provision.
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3 in 4 providers do not provide evening or weekend care.
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40 per cent of childcare providers do not have a space available.
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9 out of 10 childcare providers expect payment in advance.