Nursery World - Poor need free daycare

The Government should fully fund high quality daycare for poor families, according to research, which finds that there is 'no increased cost to society' in doing so. A study of Mapledene Early Years Centre in Hackney, east London, found that mothers were more likely to be in paid employment 18 months after taking up a full-time high quality nursery place than those making other childcare arrangements.

A study of Mapledene Early Years Centre in Hackney, east London, found that mothers were more likely to be in paid employment 18 months after taking up a full-time high quality nursery place than those making other childcare arrangements.

This study on the economic benefits of full daycare for families in deprived areas examined the health, education and social costs and found a net social gain of 837 for each household who took up a nursery place.

The cost to the Government of providing a place was on average 12,278 over 18 months. This outlay saves families the cost of private childcare and improves parental chances of getting work.

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