The research by the Fawcett Society compares early childhood education and care systems in countries that have recently, or are currently undergoing, Government-led transformation – Australia, Canada, Estonia, France and Ireland.
It argues that ‘not only is our system failing when it comes to affordability, quality and levels of public spending, but the scale of ambition is nowhere close to our peers, which is impacting women, allowing our gender pay gap to persist and is also holding children back.'
The report goes on to say that our current childcare system is ‘built on a patchwork of provision propped up by short-term fixes, and evidence shows its failing children, parents and providers alike’.
It is the last of two reports on the subject, funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
The latest report outlines a ten-point plan for long-term reform in England, which includes:
- A cross-governmental strategy, based on evidence and which puts children at the heart of the system.
- Building on (and expanding) the existing ‘free hours’ to make the offer open to all children, not just those of working parents, with extra subsidies for the poorest to enable them to afford to supplement the universal offer, and fee freezes (moving to caps) for everyone.
- Funding provided to nurseries so that they can operate in unprofitable areas, and support inclusion for all children, not just those with a diagnosis.
- Reforms to regulation, including a workforce strategy.
- A more inclusive curriculum with a greater focus on continuous improvement and a more active role for Government to ensure higher quality and sustainability.
The Fawcett Society says it has long campaigned for universal, free, accessible, and inclusive education and care from end of maternity leave until the child is aged 12.
While it welcomes the Government’s expansion of the funded hours, it argues that the ‘narrow focus of the expansion won’t help those who are disadvantaged and won’t address the wider issues with our childcare system.’
It goes on to say that the evidence within the report shows that Government should offer free universal hours for all children from the end of parental leave until school age, supplemented with ‘demand side funding that tops up the universal offer so all children can access the offer.
'For too long we've seen the cracks in our dysfunctional childcare system papered over.'
Jemima Olchawski, Fawcett Society chief executive, said, ‘Our childcare is some of the most expensive in the world and it isn’t working. Research shows that 85 per cent of mothers struggle to find childcare that fits around their work and one in ten have quit jobs due to childcare pressures. For too long we’ve seen the cracks in our dysfunctional childcare system papered over. We’ve got a patchwork of provision that doesn’t meet the needs of children, parents or the childcare sector.
‘But a broken system isn’t inevitable, as the countries in our research clearly show. We need politicians from all parties to work together and make genuine commitments that last beyond this election – and indeed the next – to reform childcare.
‘There are plenty of countries around the world who simply do childcare better and we should be learning from their ambition. As we approach a general election, all parties need to be aware that any credible vision for transforming childcare mustn’t simply offer bolt-ons to a crumbling system. We must be more ambitious, particularly when it has such an impact on both children’s life chances and women’s ability to work.’
The National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) said the report highlights many of the challenges they have been warning about for years.
