Childcare costs in the capital are a third higher than the UK average[2] and just 18 per cent of parents can rely on grandparents - well below the UK average of 21 per cent.[3]
Parents in London tend to have atypical work patterns, such as overtime, shift work, weekend working, zero hours contracts and on-call working. They also have the longest commuting times in the country.[4]
Most childcare providers work regular hours and few operate outside the working day and on weekends.
So, cost and flexibility are two major issues facing London parents when accessing childcare.
Tomorrow, the London Assembly Economy Committee will discuss these challenges.
Since September 2017, the Government extended the number of free childcare hours from 15 to 30 a week for working parents of three and four-year-olds. The Committee will look into the roll out of the 30-hour free childcare offer and the impact this has had on childcare providers. Are providers opting out of providing free childcare and moving to a completely private model?
The guests are:
- Penny Fisher, Senior Her Majesty’s Inspector London, Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (OFSTED)
- Susanna Kalitowski, Head of Policy and Research, Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years
- Shannon Hawthorne, Press and Public Affairs Director, Pre-school Learning Alliance
- Penny Kenway, Head of Early Years, Islington Council
- Sue Macmillan, Commercial Director, Mumsnet
- Joanne McCartney, Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor for Education and Childcare
From approximately 11:15am, Joanne McCartney, Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor for Education and Childcare, will join the panel, to outline what the Greater London Authority (GLA) has been doing to help and why the Mayor is setting up Early Years Hubs in London.
The meeting will take place on Tuesday, 12 December from 10:00am in The Chamber (The Queen’s Walk, London SE1).
Media and members of the public are invited to attend
The meeting can also be viewed LIVE via webcast or YouTube.
Follow us and take part in the meeting discussion using #AssemblyEconomy and #LondonChildcare
Notes to editors
- Full agenda papers.
- Institute for Public Policy Research, The future of childcare in London, April 2017
- Family and Childcare Trust, Childcare for London parents with atypical work patterns
- Ibid
- Caroline Russell AM, Chair of the Economy Committee is available for interview. See contact details below.
- London Assembly Economy Committee.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For media enquiries, please contact Lisa Lam on 020 7983 4067. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer. Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit on 020 7983 4100.