Nursery World - UK mothers suffer low support for childcare

UK mothers have fewer work opportunities and less childcare support than their European counterparts, according to a study presented at the British Household Panel Survey 2005 conference on Saturday. Researcher Lutz Kaiser, from the Institute for the Study of Labour in Germany, compared women in Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal and the UK who returned to work after having children.

Researcher Lutz Kaiser, from the Institute for the Study of Labour in Germany, compared women in Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal and the UK who returned to work after having children.

He found that Danish mothers were the fastest to return to the labour market because a comprehensive infrastructure was in place that promoted equal opportunities in the workplace. Danish parents have a shorter amount of paid leave - ten weeks plus two weeks for fathers.

Mr Kaiser said, 'What is most disturbing in the UK is that the cost of daycare is so high, mainly because such a high proportion is from private providers. This has a negative impact on the state because mothers, particularly single mothers, are becoming dependant on social assistance.'

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