Childcare costs ‘force poorer parents out of work’

Childcare is a luxury that only well-off families can comfortably afford, meaning work is an unrealistic option for poorer parents, a survey suggests.

Some families are finding the costs of childcare tough. Picture: Getty

The prohibitive cost of childcare means less well-paid parents are often no better off going to work than if they stay at home, according to the survey of over 150 parents by Save The Children.

The children’s charity has compiled 10 key issues they want addressed in the Children and Young People Bill which is going through Holyrood.

They include a focus on development, addressing the high cost and variable availability of childcare, helping parents back to work or education, help with the work and childcare balance, and more flexible childcare and employment.

Unrealistic option

The charity said: “The prohibitive cost of childcare is the key issue. Parents are finding that childcare is so expensive it’s becoming a luxury that only families earning a very good wage can comfortably afford.

“For families on low incomes they simply don’t earn enough to cover their childcare bill as well as living costs making work an unrealistic option.”

Save the Children wants the Scottish Government to use the Bill to give families a right to high-quality, affordable and flexible childcare.

Claire Telfer, the charity’s head of policy and campaigns in Scotland, said: “Parents tell us that they are still struggling to access affordable, accessible and flexible childcare and this is holding them and their families back.

“One of the most striking findings was the level of consensus that emerged on what parents want and what needs to urgently change, no matter where parents live and what age their child is.”

Challenges

Mother Caroline Wilson, of West Dunbartonshire, told Save The Children: “After-school childcare is so expensive and there’s very little availability. It traps parents into not being able to work.”

Student mother Lori, also of West Dunbartonshire, said: “My partner has to work when I’m not at college to balance the childcare. My youngest is two and there’s nothing to help families with childcare at that age.”

Children’s Minister Aileen Campbell said: “This report gives an insight into the challenges faced by parents in accessing suitable childcare. It shows why we are right to give children more free and flexible nursery hours, by 2014, to help get children’s learning off to the best start and help parents back into a job or training.”