As Labour’s shadow pensions minister, I spend most of my time concerned with how we can properly fund all of our retirements.
But last Friday, it wasn’t our retirements I was focused on, but rather our children and supporting families by proposing a Childcare Bill with a hope that it may lead to an independent review of the current patchwork of childcare provision in England.
This is an issue which is as close to my heart as it is to many readers of Grazia: your voices helped secure the all-important debate in September that put the Government on the spot. And it’s because of you that I am tabling this much needed legislation.
September’s debate gave MPs a chance to outline how the current arrangements are failing families and causing real distress to women who are, all too often, the ones who find themselves having to choose between care or career. It should not be a surprise to any government minister that mothers earn 45% less than women without children – yet it seems to be.
This disparity is unfair, it’s unnecessary and it’s bad for the economy.
The Government’s response to the debate was incredibly disappointing to all of us as they doubled down and ruled out any form of independent review of current provision, using the Budget as cover.
Well, the Budget has been and gone and we saw no new money for childcare so now we have to demand action and the long overdue review.
My “Childcare Bill” does not seek to answer every question about challenges and affordability of childcare provision. Nor do I profess to have a ready-made solution that could solve each of the problems that have been well covered by Grazia and others.
What my bill does seek to do is compel the Department of Education and the Secretary of State to instigate an independent review and join the national conversation that so many others are having about what is needed to fix childcare provision.
In my own constituency of Reading East, I have met too many families who are anxious about meeting the cost of childcare. I’ve seen too many mums and dads working out if the extra hours are worth the pay if it means having to incur extra childcare costs.
I’ve visited the nurseries and providers who are desperately trying to keep their own costs down because they don’t want price to be a barrier to childcare – but they also tell me that the rate paid by the Government for free childcare is barely enough to cover the costs of staff, heating and premises. The current system is simply not working for families, for women, for providers and for children.
An independent review would allow all the evidence to be considered, from providers, from maintained nurseries, from parents and those who have become industry experts. We can look at how we fund childcare, how childcare should work and what more can be done to support the childcare workforce in their training and development needs.
By listening hard, working together and finding common ground, I am certain we could improve the childcare system of this country.
However, that review will take time and while it is being undertaken, we have an immediate task of making sure that every parent knows what help they can get now – regardless of how flawed the current system is.
My Bill would also place a new duty on the Secretary of State to produce a strategy to promote the availability of free childcare, with particular attention to be paid to children from disadvantaged groups.
Too many children are missing out on the early years support to which they are entitled simply because parents don’t believe the help available extends to them. And it is the children who most need the additional support who lose out.
It doesn’t have to be this way and with a little bit of coordinated government action, we can make sure that more families get the support they need.
In his budget last Wednesday, the Chancellor acknowledged that the first 1001 days of any child’s life can determine their whole life opportunities. The Chancellor also spoke of creating a new post-covid economy. Through my bill and with a properly independent review of childcare we can help the Chancellor meet his ambitions.
We can create a childcare system that supports people back into work, to develop their careers and to take advantage of promotion and advancement. Our economy can only flourish and thrive with a childcare system that is also flourishing and thriving.
And we can ensure that those first 1001 days are filled with fun and joy in a well resources setting; where the early lives of our children are nurtured and supported. This bill won’t solve the problems, but it will take us one step closer.
TO TWEET YOUR MP ASKING FOR AN INDEPENDENT CHILDCARE REVIEW, CLICK HERE
You can still sign Grazia's petition here