Michael Pettavel: Government policy is still failing families

As the Government’s flagship policy rolling out ‘free’ childcare to two-year-olds begins in earnest this month, it is expedient that it coincides with the Institute for fiscal Studies’ report into Sure Start and Children’s Centres. It’s worth a read.

With the Labour government-in-waiting being strongly encouraged by some in their party to revive Sure Start, the shadow cabinet are sadly remaining quite coy about committing. Hopefully the IFS study will re-open the debate.

The Conservative Government’s approach has been one of ‘outsourcing’, whether in dentistry, sewage, public transport – or as some fear – the NHS. It can be seen in their early years policy, and there are some concerning outcomes as a result. As cash-strapped families struggle with the rising costs of even the most basic necessities and employers reluctant to show any type of flexibility to parents, the pressure to find wraparound childcare has increased. It becomes a prerequisite of the economic system, more about working parents and less about children. Any nursery can tell you about the friction between parental responsibility and an unsympathetic employer; just look for the children arriving at nursery after a dose of Calpol.