Schools should be at the heart of childcare system

The Children's commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza has released her Vision for Childcare report, which says that schools should be at the heart of the childcare system.

The report says that when it comes to school age children, the most straightforward approach to making childcare manageable and affordable is by providing an extended school day, so that children can be cared for on school premises.

It says that this would address the biggest existing gap in childcare provision, with the majority of areas saying there is a lack of provision for after school care for children aged 5-14.

The report also says that schools should also be utilised to help address the early education challenge. As school rolls fall across the country, with the number of pupils in state funded primaries set to fall by a fifth over the next decade, there will be significant underused space in schools.

Currently, rent or mortgage payments account for 12% of private providers’ costs, and other costs (including utilities) account for 11% - these are only likely to increase in the short term, and may make many childcare settings unsustainable.

Opening up schools to provide more early years education would address both these issues.

The research has shown that take-up of free hours around the country is hugely variable, and that children from disadvantaged backgrounds are less likely to be in private provision, and more likely to take up their place in a nursery class in school. Local authorities around the country report huge variation in their ability to secure sufficient childcare. Drawing on school resources to increase provision for 2, 3- and 4-year-olds in school.