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xReport warns free childcare expansion may fail poorer families
Date: 11th December 2024
Category:
General measures of implementation, General principles
A new report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) and Save the Children highlights major inequalities in childcare access across England, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the UK Government’s free childcare expansion for poorer families.
The report reveals that only 36% of the poorest parents use formal childcare, compared to 73% of the wealthiest households. Access is particularly limited in more socioeconomically deprived areas and in rural areas, which have fewer and lower-quality childcare options. For example, Walsall is among the worst-affected areas, with three-quarters of children lacking sufficient childcare access.
To address these issues, the report suggests policies such as creating not-for-profit nursery trusts, increasing funding for deprived areas, supporting childminders, and expanding local authority roles in childcare planning. Without action, the report warns, the childcare system risks leaving poorer families behind despite the ongoing expansion efforts.