Parents Say Lack Of Affordable Childcare Is Hampering Mothers Returning To Work

A MORI survey of parents for National Childcare Week 2000 shows how employers and Government can do more to help mothers return to work after having a baby

Mothers need more affordable childcare to help them return to work after having a baby, according to a new survey of parents. But three-quarters of parents say that working mothers cannot find enough affordable childcare. And almost half said working mothers do not get any help from their employer. The MORI survey of parents is published today to mark the start of National Childcare Week 2000, organised by Daycare Trust, the national childcare charity.

Parents were asked what is essential to help women return to work and what more is needed from the Government and employers. Despite the National Childcare Strategy, three out of four parents claimed that working parents do not have enough affordable childcare and over two-thirds said that this is essential to help women return to work after having a child. Parents want the Government to invest in quality affordable childcare for children under two and to encourage employers to offer flexible work packages. Parents want employers to provide flexible leave packages; three in ten want help with childcare costs and workplace nurseries.

Key findings in the MORI survey include:

• 75% of parents do not believe that working mothers have sufficient access to affordable childcare
• 67% said that the availability of affordable childcare is essential to help mothers return to work
• almost half of parents (45%) said working mothers do not receive support from employers
• nearly one in three (30%) say help with childcare costs from employers would ease the return to work and 30% would like a workplace nursery
• 39% believe that flexible leave packages would ease the return to work after maternity leave

A supportive employer and the opportunity to work part-time was cited by nearly half (47% and 41% respectively) of parents as essential in enabling women to return to work. 'Childcare is everybody's business' is the theme of this year's National Childcare Week (22-28 May 2000) organised by Daycare Trust. The week also includes:

• a business breakfast with employers
• a children's competition on what they like about childcare with prizes presented by Secretary of State for Education and Employment David Blunkett MP
• launch of a guide for parents to Half-term Survival
• "This house is no place for families" debate at the House of Commons

Colette Kelleher, Director of Daycare Trust, commented: "Mothers who want to go back to work still find getting someone good to look after the children is a major problem. This survey shows that being able to afford good childcare is the biggest barrier to work for women with children. "Parents want the Government and employers to do much more to make it easier to return to work. Affordable childcare is top of their list. If the Government and employers want mothers back to work, they are going to have to do more to support them. Without good affordable childcare, we are all losers."

Technical details

Using its Omnibus, MORI conducted 595 interviews with parents/guardians of children aged 0-15 years, across 155 sampling points throughout Great Britain. Interviews were carried out using CAPI (Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing) face-to-face with people in their own homes between 13-17 April 2000. Data has been weighted to reflect the national population profile.