Government challenged to be bold on family policy
A leading childcare charity has urged the Government to think radically on universal childcare.
In a new report published to coincide with the run-up to the publication of the Government’s ten year childcare plan, the Daycare Trust calls for an extension of the current free nursery education place to four hours a day and create a “unified, simple and consistent set of services that benefits children and their families.”
Quality and affordable childcare should be a right of all families it says.
In addition, it calls on the Government to create a national training framework for those working with children and make the profession a “well paid highly skilled career.”
The Daycare Trust warns that though access to childcare has improved, it is still “a lottery, dependent on where families live, their income and employment”.
Stephen Burke, director of Daycare Trust, said: “The Government has an unprecedented opportunity in its forthcoming ten year plan to set the future direction for childcare services. Now is the time to be bold and create the best services for all children and their families. Ending child poverty and giving all children a good start in life are ambitions that require universal affordable quality childcare.”
On the related issue of working parents, the Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt indicated in an interview with the Financial Times that Labour may introduce significant new employment rights.
The changes, which could be included in a third-term manifesto, would be likely to include longer paid maternity leave and higher paternity pay.
Ms Hewitt said that she was determined to support “hard-working families, and we will be campaigning on that as a big part of the election”. Though she stressed that her proposals are at this stage personal, she is the minister responsible.
Under the proposals, the level of paternity pay could be increased after a disappointing take-up of the option so far. Only around a fifth of eligible men have chosen to exercise their option of two weeks leave, something put down to the low level of statutory pay of £102 a week.
Ms Hewitt also suggested an extension of entitlement to flexible working, and the possibility of an extension of the paid component of maternity leave.
