The scarcity of childcare provision has been a national conversation, it is known that in England, for every 100 children who need a childcare place, there are actually only 25 spots available. The knock on effects are not just for the parents, children and child care providers, but the wider economy too.
The mental toll on parents deciding between prioritising paying the pills and having someone to look after the children, is impossible. Yet it is a reality for so many.
Childcare and early years educational environments boost child development, providing both an intellectually and socially stimulating space where young minds can flourish and thrive.
Childcare providers are under immense pressure, with too few providers around the workload remains high and lack of staffing can be a problem.
So what are the issues?
Lack of Availability. There are not enough places for our population of under 8s. Dudley, the constituency I represent in the Black Country, is classified as a childcare desert. The national average is higher than that in Dudley, where there are only 17 places per 100 children. The 45 registered childcare providers offering shy of 1,130 places is a drop in the bucket compared to what Dudley, and the Black Country needs.
Poor Quality. The rising costs for childcare providers have strained early years funding, making it harder to maintain higher standards. Of the 28 local providers inspected by Ofsted in Dudley, only 7% recieved an outstanding rating, falling short behind the national average of 14%.
We need to support children with additional need and disabilities. There is a shortage of resources, funding and SEND assessments, limiting vital one-on-one and specialist care for children with additional needs and disabilities. The YMCA reports that over a third of children in its Black Country settings need additional support, and with an already pressured childcare system, we need to ensure we don’t leave any child behind.
Are parents working? In short, yes. It is not a case of people aren’t working, in fact 72% of mothers are working, and a further 14% of non-working mums would take employment if they had access to convenient and affordable childcare. With limited childcare options many parents are forced to stay outside work, adding to family stress. Essentially, we need people in work to help the economy grow, in turn the government can invest more into public services we need like childcare provision.
So how do we solve this?
We need a childcare and early education system that strengthens our communities, supports our economy and ensures that every child has the chance to succeed.
The government aims to deliver this by:
*Offering free quality childcare for children aged 2 –4, relieving some financial pressure on families and allowing them the opportunity to return to work
*Opening 300 more nurseries within the year, a quick solution that can be achieved at this pace by utilising empty spaces in primary schools that are already child friendly.
*To address inequality, the government will cover up to 80% of childcare costs for qualifying families, providing support for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
In the government’s latest budget, it was confirmed that childcare and early years education will receive funding.
The government department has crucially secured strong support from the sector by accepting proposals on safer recruitment, child absences, safer eating, safeguarding training and paediatric first aid training.
Ultimately, we need a childcare and early years education system that delivers for families. It is vital we leave no child behind and provide support for those who need it most.
By investing in early years education, we are investing in a stronger and more resilient future nationally, and for the Black Country.
I look forward to quality childcare being a reality for every family, giving each child the foundation that they need to thrive and each parent the support that they deserve.
You can read my full debate in Westminister on the quality and availability of childcare here – https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2024-10-30/debates/D493F927-7C2E-436D-9AA3-EEBB6E2749E9/ChildcareBlackCountry?highlight=sonia%20kumar#contribution-036216BB-7D9E-4DF3-A07E-93D1824299E7
Childcare Desert in Dudley
