“We support calls in the report for a review of the early years system to ensure that investment supports the Government’s ambitions and that parents are clear on the best options for their children".
Responding to Coram Family and Childcare’s 21st annual Childcare Survey which shows that childcare costs for children aged under two have risen by four per cent over the past year, Cllr Judith Blake, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board, said:
“Childcare and early education providers have been a vital part of the nation’s response to COVID-19 and this survey shows how many are struggling to manage and sustain their provision. It is vital that all parents have affordable access to the good quality childcare they need to enable them to return to work, while ensuring that children have the support they need to develop school readiness.
“We support calls in the report for a review of the early years system to ensure that investment supports the Government’s ambitions and that parents are clear on the best options for their children, as well as shorter term actions such as supporting families on Universal Credit by paying up-front for childcare costs.
“It is essential that we have enough childcare places to support families to ensure the country can recover from COVID-19, both economically and socially, and the Government needs to closely monitor the situation and provide additional funding where providers are at risk of failure as a result of the pandemic.”