Cost limits childcare choices

Researchers from London University’s Institute of Education have uncovered a “growing divide” between the childcare available to rich and poor parents.

After examining the arrangements for care of the under-fives among 70 working-class families in two parts of London, Dr Carol Vincent and her colleagues found that they relied almost exclusively on state provision. In contrast, wealthier parents can choose from a far wider range of options — public, private and voluntary-sector nursery provision, as well as home-based childminders.

Vincent warned that this “segregated provision” raised concerns over the affordability of childcare, “as a high percentage of care costs fall on the parent”.

Despite their lack of choice, the working-class parents in the study had a favourable view of state nurseries — although they were also unwilling to raise any concerns they had or to criticise carers. The Economic and Social Research Council, which funded the research, said policymakers “should be concerned about the growing divide between the under-fives of ‘have’ and ‘have-not’ parents”.

The research also asked for parents’ views on balancing work and family life, and found that working mothers are “often caught between two conflicting positions” of being a good mum or a good worker.