A new report by the Institute for Policy Research (IPR) at the University of Bath, which highlights how insufficient free hours, added providers fees and a lack of after-school and limited holiday club options is failing families, calls for ‘bold reforms’ to end ‘crippling’ childcare costs for UK families on low incomes.
Among the report’s recommendations is allowing working parents of under-fives on Universal Credit to reclaim 100 per cent of their childcare costs, rather than the current 85 per cent. It says this would enable parents to increase their working hours.
The report, which is based on interviews with low-income parents on Universal Credit, is funded by abrdn Financial Fairness Trust, also calls for:
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