You are here: News 'At-Home' childcare could solve London atypical hours childcare shortage

The Family and Childcare Trust has today called on London councils to respond to the growing need for childcare outside normal office hours through the introduction of Ofsted registered at-home childcare services.

Such services have been set up in the boroughs of Brent and Hammersmith and Fulham, but the charity says more needs to be done to meet the demands of the 1.4 million Londoners who work in sectors – such as health and retailing - that frequently require shift work.

Stephen Dunmore, interim chief executive at the Family and Childcare Trust said: 

"While we are seeing a growth in the numbers of Londoners who work outside the standard nine-to-five, five day week, formal childcare is not becoming more flexible.

"This is a particular problem in London, where fewer parents are able to use grandparents to provide informal childcare and where childminder numbers are in decline. Local authorities must do more to meet their obligations under the Childcare Act 2006 and make sure they have enough flexible childcare to meet the needs of modern working families."

The briefing launched today by the Family and Childcare Trust, Childcare for London Parents with atypical work patterns, also found:

  • London has been losing flexible forms of childcare at a higher rate than elsewhere in Britain, with childminder numbers falling by 13 per cent between 2012 and 2014.
  • London has also seen a loss of sessional creches located at children’s centres and community centres which are often used by parents whose work is irregular.
  • 17 out of 33 London local authorities have not audited their childcare provision since 2011. There is a requirement under the Childcare Act 2006 to carry out this audit every year to make sure their supply of childcare meets the demands of working parents. As well as calling on London local authorities to introduce registered at-home childcare services and carry out yearly audits of their childcare provision, the Family and Childcare Trust is also calling on the Department for Education to set aside grant funding to increase the amount of registered childcare for parents who work atypical hours.

As well as calling on London local authorities to introduce registered at-home childcare services and carry out yearly audits of their childcare provision, the Family and Childcare Trust is also calling on the Department for Education to set aside grant funding to increase the amount of registered childcare for parents who work atypical hours.

 

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Contact: Mark Bou Mansour, Communications and Campaigns Manager. Telephone: 0207 940 7535, mobile: 07538 334 772, email: mark@familyandchildcaretrust.org.

About the Family and Childcare Trust

The Family and Childcare Trust aims to make the UK a better place for families. We are a leading national family charity in the field of policy, research and advocacy on childcare and family issues, with over 40 years’ experience. Our on-the-ground work with parents and providers informs our research and campaigns. We focus on the early years and childcare because they are crucial to boosting children’s outcomes throughout life and supporting parents to work.