Childcare costs are a burden that every working mum has felt at one point or another.
Mum's generally feel hugely emotional when the time comes to return to their place of work anyhow - and that's before the worry of the financial costs start to creep in. Some look forward to it, despite the conflicting feelings that can surface when it comes to part with their young baby, but for many, simply not returning to work isn't an option.
But a new survey revealed today that an estimated 89,000 mothers of children under five are blocked from finding work, and that childcare is the main reason for this, due to its massive costings.
The childcare system is costing mothers in England £3.4 million a day because it prevents them from working, according to new analysis from Save the Children. That’s £1.2 billion every year!
The charity estimates there are around 89,000 mothers of children in the UK under the age of five who would like to get back into work but say that childcare is the main barrier to doing so.
Research shows childcare issues are the number one barrier to work for parents with young children. Despite recent reforms, Save the Children says that parents are still facing sky-high childcare bills and struggling with a complicated system – with almost half of parents saying they have no idea or are confused about what support they should get. The charity says that they are left unable to access the childcare they need to work, which can tip families into hardship.
Research shows that the average take-home pay for a mum working full time is just over £20,000 and almost £45,000 for a couple both working full time.
Even taking into account free childcare hours and government subsidies, the cost of childcare for two children can still be more than £8,000 a year. That is 39% of the mother’s take home pay - twice as much as she pays in tax. Parents say that childcare bills are still too high, with many claiming it costs more than their mortgage or rent, or that it doesn’t make financial sense to go back to work.
Bianca, 36, is a Mum from East London with two boys aged three and seven and explained that After working full time for ten years, she says childcare issues forced her to give up her job as an education team leader in a college.
“I absolutely loved my job and I could see myself progressing. It was the cost of childcare that made me give it up, because if I’d had to pay for my younger son to be in nursery full-time that would have been a massive chunk of my salary. We made sure we lived within our means but of course you lose out on some things. We did make that choice to have children, but we shouldn’t be penalised for it, and that’s how it feels at the moment," she said.
To address the problems of cost, complexity and accessibility in the childcare system which are preventing parents from working, Save the Children is calling on new government ministers responsible for childcare to urgently set out the next steps to delivering a childcare system in England that is high quality, affordable, easy to use and fits around families’ lives.
They are asking parents to sign their petition to let the Government know reform is needed to fix the childcare system.
