4.3 million parents missing out on essential services for under 5s - Tulip Siddiq responds

Tulip Siddiq MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Children and Early Years, responding to new research from Action for Children showing 4.3 million parents are missing out on or struggling to access essential services for under 5s, said:

“Working parents are under huge pressure every day as a result of the Conservatives’ failure to deliver high quality, affordable childcare for all.

“Chronic underfunding has seen vital children’s centres disappearing, childcare costs soaring and nearly 3,000 early years providers close during the first half of 2021.

“It’s time for Ministers to put the needs of families first and ensure parents can access vital early years services which set children up for life.”

Ends

Notes to editors

• Action for Children report found that
• 82% of parents with children aged 0-5 have been unable or have struggled to access vital ‘lifeline’ early years support,
• The Covid crisis made access worse^[ii] with the forced closure of family hubs and children’s centres, with some moving online or over-the-phone

• More than three quarters of parents (78%) unable to access a service say they are worried about the impact on themselves or their child
• Before the onset of the pandemic, many parents reported difficulties accessing family support services, as children’s centres or other services were cut back. Since the onset of the pandemic, more parents, 27% compared to 22% before the pandemic, said services have been completely unavailable within their local community.
• Sutton Trust research estimates that over 1,000 childcare centres closed from 2009 – 2017: https://www.suttontrust.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/StopStart-FINAL.pdf
• Government spending on Sure Start Children’s centres and children under 5 declined 41% from 2014/15 – 2019/20 putting increase pressure on childcare providers: See ‘England’ https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/b7901846-8c02-4083-b657-b87b73a48f02
• According to government data 2,909 childcare providers have closed since the start of the year. (DfE Statistics)