Daycare Trust respond to DWP welfare reform package

Thursday, 13, Dec 2007 12:00

Lone parents and welfare reform – Daycare Trust response to DWP report

Daycare Trust, the national childcare charity, has commented on the publication of “Ready for Work: full employment in our generation,” the Government’s blueprint for welfare reform.

“Daycare Trust is encouraged to see that lone parents who are unable to access appropriate, affordable childcare will not be penalized or have their benefits reduced,” said Joint-Chief Executive Alison Garnham.

The national childcare charity has been concerned that the drive to encourage more lone parents into work would be fatally undermined by a shortage of childcare for older children.

Speaking on the day that Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Peter Hain, announced a raft of proposals including the requirement that lone parents should look for work when their youngest child is 12, Alison said:

“Currently there is only one childcare place for every 200 children in this age group. And the transition to secondary school is a time when children are extremely vulnerable, and when few parents are happy about them roaming the streets or being left at home alone.”

“Earlier this week the Government announced its Children’s Plan, aimed at making this the best country in the world to grow up in. If this aspiration is to apply to all children, whether they have one parent or two, safeguards urgently need to be put in place.”

Daycare Trust is particularly concerned that the extended schools programme, which will provide 8am-6pm activities based around schools, will not cover the whole country until 2010.

“The two-year time lag between the requirement on lone parents to work, and every child having access to extended school provision, is something that needs to be considered,” said Alison.

“With that in mind we are glad that the Government has indicated that no lone parent will be penalised if they cannot find appropriate childcare.”

In the longer term the charity is calling on the government to ensure that the extended schools provision offers a wide range of interesting activities, appropriate for the 11-14 age group. It also thinks that some changes may be needed to extended schools provision, to ensure that it offers registered and supervised attendance, so that parents at work can be sure that their children are safe.

“We also need to address affordability. Most of the lone parents who contact us want to work, but they can’t afford to pay for childcare.”

“Even with the maximum help through tax credits – which can pay for up to 80 per cent of childcare costs – the burden of paying for childcare is daunting for low-income parents. We think that in order to reach the group of parents targeted in the welfare reform proposals, after-school childcare will need to be free of charge for the poorest families.”

ENDS

NOTES FOR 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. We oppose all discrimination and promote equality in all we do.

Daycare Trust is calling on the government to:

* Meet parents' aspirations for universal childcare services by:

* expanding free places for two, three and four-year olds to at least 20 hours a week, for 48 weeks in the year and

* subsidising out of school activities for all 11-14s and for younger children from poorer families, aiming ultimately to make them free.

* Tackle the affordability crisis by giving local authorities the means to develop sustainable services in poorer areas and provide free places for those missing out, including places for disabled children, parents needing out of hours care, Further Education students and parents of under-threes who want to train.

* Raise the bar on childcare quality by expanding the Transformation Fund, developing a new generation of childcare professionals and paying them properly.

Daycare Trust runs an information line (020 7840 3350) on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10am-5pm. Parents can also visit www.daycaretrust.org.uk for information.

Daycare Trust is a member of the Campaign to End Child Poverty, www.ecpc.org.uk .

For further information, contact press office at Daycare Trust on 020 7840 3350, ext 217 (out of hours 07804 508768).