Labour MP Stella Creasy has tabled an amendment to the Levelling up and Regeneration Bill, which will undergo its third reading in the House of Commons tomorrow (13 December), calling for a new duty to be placed on big housing developers to help fund more childcare provision.
Under the amendment, which has the support of a number of cross-party MPs, including the new chair of the Education Select Committee Robin Walker, local authorities would be allowed to use infrastructure levy funds raised by charging developers of new housing in their area to provide more childcare places locally.
Ms Creasy says the duty would mean childcare is recognised as a crucial part of local infrastructure, alongside schools, GP surgeries and public transport.
It is in response to new analysis by the Labour MP showing that the rate of population change is outstripping the supply of childcare.
According to the cross-analysis of population data from the ONS Census and Ofsted figures on childcare places, since 2011, the rate of population growth has outstripped the growth of the childcare sector in 114 of the 149 local authorities, including 16 of the 20 areas with the highest population growth. Creasy says this has left local families with reduced choice of provision and facing higher childcare fees.
The analysis also shows that in 74 areas, the number of available childcare places has fallen since 2014 while the population has increased.
Creasy says that charities, such as the National Childbirth Trust (NCT), are now advising new parents to begin arranging provision before their child is born – often 18 months before the place will be needed.
She explained, ‘The crisis in our childcare system is holding back children and holding back our economy. A decade of underinvestment in these services has led to eye-watering prices and unsustainable waiting lists to get your child into nursery.
‘It is time we recognised childcare as the vital economic infrastructure it is. Without high-quality affordable childcare, we will continue to see parents locked out of work for years on end, hitting their future earning potential and dampening economic growth.
‘By allowing local authorities to use infrastructure levy funds for childcare, we can take the first step towards ensuring that every child – and their family – get the benefit of high-quality, affordable childcare in their local area.'
Joeli Brearley, chief executive of Pregnant then Screwed, commented, ‘As the childcare and early years sector continues to collapse, with thousands of providers closing their doors, we are witnessing an exodus of women from the labour market and an increase in child poverty. It is imperative that the Government gets a grip of this issue - childcare is not babysitting, it is not a nice to have, it is vital social infrastructure for economic growth.’
