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Daycare Trust : Childcare is the Key : Report : January 2004

Freeing large families from poverty - Daycare Trust and TUC say childcare is the key

The lack of affordable childcare in the UK means many parents and children of larger families are trapped in a life of low income and low expectations, according to a new report published 25th January 2004 by Daycare Trust and the TUC.

With fewer families now living in poverty and thousands of new childcare places created, the Government has good reason to be proud of its record. But the report, Women, child poverty and childcare - making the links, says that there needs to be a shift in Government policy if all families are to have the chance of a life free from poverty.

Written for the two organisations by Bristol academic and childcare expert Professor Hilary Land, the report says that although only a third of all children are in large families (three or more children), they account for half of all poor children.  Some minority ethnic groups are particularly affected.

Nearly a third of Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Indian families have three or more children compared with 18 per cent of white families, and these groups are more likely to have very low incomes. The traditional link between family size and poverty has not been broken, argues the report.

New figures published at a joint Daycare Trust/TUC conference on Monday 26th January 2004 show that childcare costs continue to rise.  In 2002 British parents paid out £1.8 billion to the day nursery sector.  Government measures to help parents with childcare costs take no account of the extra costs of three or more children.

• Childcare provision is often patchy, inflexible and expensive, preventing women from returning to work or forcing them to work fewer hours to fit around their childcare, according to the report.
• For decades British women have paid a high price for having hours of employment compatible with their caring responsibilities.
• Mothers working part-time have average hourly earnings only 59 per cent of men working full-time.
• For most women, fewer hours limit training opportunities and chances of promotion, and mean lower pay and inadequate pension provision.

Professor Land's report argues that the UK should learn from the experiences of countries like France and Sweden, which have more generous parental and maternity pay and leave systems, and where numerous, affordable and extensive childcare options enable mothers to work full-time if they want to.

The report also blames the UK's obsession with long hours for rewarding those most able to spend more time at work, and says proper enforcement of the Working Time Directive would start to challenge this country's long hours culture.

Daycare Trust Director Stephen Burke said:

"Childcare is crucial to lift families out of poverty.  This report highlights the price many families are paying because caring responsibilities limit employment and training opportunities.  The Government must act to help larger families break this cycle of poverty."

"Childcare, or rather the lack of it, has a lot to answer for.  Being unable to work because costly childcare remains way beyond the family budget is dooming hundreds of thousands of larger families to a life of poverty.

"Childcare is now one of the most pressing concerns for unions and parents both in and out of work. The Government has made a good start, now it's for ministers, local councils, employers and unions to grasp the challenge and help make childcare a reality for every parent who wants it."

• Change its policy on childcare to recognise that the needs of larger families and couples where only one parent is working are being overlooked.
• Move towards a universal system of childcare whereby all women in training, education or employment can have access to affordable childcare.
• Increase expenditure on childcare, and encourage a new partnership involving central and local government, employers and trade unions, aimed at creating a more comprehensive system of childcare, and a more child-friendly working environment.

Women, child poverty and childcare - making the links costs £10 and is available from Daycare Trust, tel: 020 7840 3350.