It’s time we made childcare about children, not just about work

Tom Pollard wrote for the Big Issue about changes to childcare support for people on universal credit and why the conversation on childcare needs to go beyond getting parents in to work.

“As with the broader set of changes to funding for childcare announced in the Spring Budget, these reforms do little to address some of the critical underlying problems with the current system. Whether it’s about the experience of parents accessing provision, the quality of care and support children receive, pay and progression opportunities staff, or the sustainability and social commitment of providers, our system of childcare and early years education is falling short and at risk of falling apart.”