Childcare costs and tiny chairs - some reasons to be positive

The Coram childcare survey is a chilling read. I have seen many reposts of the BBC News article that references it, highlighting why the cost of childcare is such a problem.?I have been outspoken on this issue.?As a young lawyer, I was often praised for my enthusiasm and positivity about life in general but as a full-time working mother of two young children, I have lost that positivity a bit recently.?

So, controversially, let’s turn things on their head, and look at the opportunities here:

• Finally (finally) this issue is headline news:?At 8.30am yesterday morning the BBC Radio 4 Today program announced (as the second headline news item) that the childcare system across Britain is in “urgent need of reform”. Finally, the debilitating costs of childcare (and woeful lack of provision) have become headline news.?That it has taken so long is shameful, but I confess my heart skipped a beat when I heard it – this is a national issue, and it needs to be national news.
• It is now unequivocal that a complete reform of the childcare system is needed:?As the report states: “..the need for action to improve the childcare and early education system is urgent….we need a complete reform of the system…the Government must review and reform all current spending on childcare.” No quick fix will work here.?No more meaningless platitudes.?Reform is required. ?With thanks to the authors of the report ( Megan Jarvie , Sam Shorto , Lisa Kunwar Deer and Emma Goddard ) for providing complete clarity on this point.
• A cross party parliamentary inquiry is looking at support for childcare and early years: The Chair of the Education Committee has said: “The childcare sector is intrinsically valuable because it has the potential to allow millions of parents to continue with their careers at a time when labour shortages are undermining economic growth, while also giving young children a huge head start in their pre-school education and development.”?I think very few people could disagree with that statement.
• Corporate childcare provision could fill the gap - and attract talent in a competitive market: Most employers offer their staff benefits, like gym memberships, travel/car allowances, wellbeing or social events.?A survey in 2021 found that just 11% of employers provide childcare provision as a benefit. As a competition lawyer, all I can think is what a missed opportunity!?We are experiencing unprecedented labour shortages, and an increasingly competitive market for talent.?If you are advertising for a role, chances are a parent is likely to apply.?Why not try and entice them with childcare provision? (I would be very interested to hear if your company does this already).

Lastly, I have used an image of the chairs taken at the parents' evening I attended for my children last night.?Because I love the fact that no matter what you do, where you come from, or how much you earn, when you attend a parents' evening in an early years setting, you will sit on a tiny chair.?It is a total leveller and it brings me a lot of joy.

#childcarecosts #workingparents #coramreport #childcarecrisis #diversity #fridaythoughts #tinychairs

Sarah Long is a partner at Euclid Law , a boutique competition law firm.?Views are entirely personal and do not constitute legal advice.??