Only two per cent of people who currently work in early years are male. Do you think there should be more effort to increase the numbers of men working in childcare and early years?
4 March 2010
Daycare Trust, the national childcare campaign, today responded to a new report from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and Grandparents Plus which looks at the part played by grandparents in providing support in low-income families, including providing childcare. ‘Protect, support, provide: examining the role of grandparents in families at risk of poverty', sets out a number of recommendations in order to better support and recognise the role of grandparents.
Daycare Trust is largely supportive of the calls that the report makes, and recognises the important role many grandparents play in childcare provision, particularly in low-income families. This is backed up by Daycare Trust's policy paper ‘Listening to grandparents' published later this month, a piece of research carried out with grandparents sharing their experiences and views on childcare.
Alison Garnham, Chief Executive of Daycare Trust said:
"We back many of the calls the EHRC and Grandparents Plus make in their report.
Affordable, flexible, good quality formal childcare is at the heart of what Daycare Trust campaigns for and we realise this is not yet readily available to all, particularly to families at risk of poverty and those with disabled children. We want children to be guaranteed this, alongside any informal family care they may be receiving, in order to ensure they have the best possible start in life. We thoroughly endorse the call by Grandparents Plus for more affordable, flexible, high quality childcare to suit the needs of all families.
Daycare Trust has long been calling for increased flexible working options for all, and we believe this is a practical and effective way to ease the childcare burden many modern families face.
And given the pivotal role within their local communities that many children's centres play, it is absolutely right that they should be key in rolling out support to grandparents.
However we believe that at a time when public finances are under so much pressure, it is unlikely that any government will be in a position to fund both tax credits for grandparents and the investments so desperately needed to improve the childcare sector, and we therefore believe this sector-wide investment must take priority."
Ends.
NOTES TO EDITORS
For further information on Protect, support, provide: examining the role of grandparents in families at risk of poverty' contact Grandparents Plus on 020 8981 8001 or info@grandparentsplus.org.uk
Daycare Trust is the national childcare charity, campaigning for quality affordable accessible childcare for all and raising the voices of children, parents and carers. We advise parents and carers, providers, employers, trade unions and policymakers on childcare issues. We recognise that everyone is unique and we value difference in our communities. We listen to all views and are committed to act without prejudice.
Daycare Trust runs an Information Line on 0845 872 6251, open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10.00am-1.00pm and 2.00pm-5.00pm, Wed 2.00pm-5.00pm (only). Parents can also visit www.daycaretrust.org.uk and www.payingforchildcare.org.uk for information.
Daycare Trust is a member of the Campaign to End Child Poverty, www.ecpc.org.uk.
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