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Is there sufficient childcare in your area for parents who work outside normal office hours?
Research reveals childcare gap for shift workers
20 March 2011
A new report out today from childcare charity Daycare Trust has cast light on the difficulties faced by parents who work atypical hours - through either shift work, or working regular unsociable hours. ‘Open all hours? Flexible childcare in the 24/7 era' assesses the demand for childcare outside of standard 8am-6pm opening times, and explores the reasons for these difficulties. It comprises a survey of 400 affected parents, including NHS employees, airport workers, television production crew, care home workers, and HGV drivers, in addition to parent and provider interviews and analysis of Childcare Sufficiency Assessments and the Labour Force Survey.
Key findings:
- 16% of parents work shifts, one in ten parents work over 40 hours per week and four in ten parents work hours which vary from week to week.
- Lone parents and low income families are most likely to be found in jobs which demand that they work some atypical hours.
- 67% of parents working atypical hours struggled to find childcare to meet their needs. This included 66% who struggled to access childcare after 6pm, 53% before 8am, 40% at weekends, and 32% overnight.
- Over half of parents said that childcare needed to be more affordable to enable them to access it, and four in ten said that an inability to access childcare at short notice was a barrier.
Daycare Trust recommendations:
- For parents to have the right to request flexible work from day one of employment, including the right to reject any atypical hours and request more regular hours.
- For central government to provide more support and guidance to childcare providers and larger employers; increase promotion of the financial support for childcare; and to make the free early education entitlement available from 7am-7pm.
- For local authorities to assess demand for childcare more closely; promote and support childminder networks; and offer ‘pump-priming' grants to support local providers in establishing atypical childcare schemes.
Anand Shukla, acting Chief Executive of Daycare Trust said:
"Our report demonstrates the enormous barriers that parents who work outside typical ‘9-to-5' hours face in accessing childcare - barriers that largely go ignored.
Daycare Trust is highlighting this hidden problem faced by so many shift workers ahead of this week's budget. Many of these are parents in a weak labour market position, and it is crucial for our economic recovery that parents are practically supported to stay in work.
With four in ten parents working hours that vary from week to week, this issue affects large numbers of families. Local authorities and central government must act now to ensure that childcare providers are supported to deliver a service that fully meets the needs of parents."
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
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 http://www.daycaretrust.org.uk/ and http://www.payingforchildcare.org.uk/ for information.
Daycare Trust is a member of the Campaign to End Child Poverty, http://www.endchildpoverty.org.uk/.
Interviews and case studies available on request. For further information or to obtain a copy of ‘Open all hours? Flexible childcare in the 24/7 era', contact Veronica King in the press office at Daycare Trust on 020 7940 7525 (out of hours 07796 886 648) or vking@daycaretrust.org.uk
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