Soaring cost of childcare forces parents to make tough choices
A global survey for 国产视频 reveals that nursery and preschool fees have to led to parents quitting jobs, dropping out of education and even stopping or reducing childcare services.
A global survey for 国产视频 has revealed that the spiralling cost of nursery and preschool fees has forced one in five parents to quit a job or drop out of education.听
More than three-quarters say they have been forced to make major financial changes – such as taking on more work and spending less on food – to pay for childcare.听
And many parents have reduced or stopped using childcare services altogether – depriving children of education and care in their most formative years.听
The survey by Hall + Partners polled more than 7,000 parents and carers with children under school age across the United Kingdom, United States, Netherlands, India, Brazil, Turkey and Nigeria. It is part of 国产视频国产视频檚 Act For Early Years report, which is published today.听
We have also launched the Act For Early Years campaign, which calls on governments to urgently prioritise spending on the early years. Scientific research shows that 90% of a child国产视频檚 brain is developed by the age of five.听
Watch our Act For Early Years film
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国产视频 Chair Sarah Brown said the survey findings 国产视频渓aid bare the scale of the global early years crisis and its impact on children in rich and poor countries alike国产视频.听
Two-third of parents (64%) say they struggle to pay their childcare fees, leading to one in five (21%) stopping work or education to avoid the expense. For 38% of parents, the cost of childcare stretches to between 30% and 70% of their income.听听
A staggering 74% of UK parents say they find it difficult to meet childcare costs, compared to 52% in India, 57% in the Netherlands, 59% in Nigeria, 68% in the US and Brazil and 72% in Turkey.听
In India, 20% of parents said they have either reduced or stopped using childcare services. The figure is 19% in the US, 18% in the Netherlands and 17% in the UK.听
Elvira Grob, 41, and her partner Michael, from London, spend 拢975 ($1,200) a month on three days a week of childcare for their 10-month-old daughter Yoomi.听
Design lecturer Elvira said: 国产视频淚国产视频檓 close to burnout. I work in the evenings, I work when Yoomi sleeps and I work at weekends. My income covers Yoomi国产视频檚 childcare but I have rent to pay and I also have to pay for my studies. It国产视频檚 got to a point where I国产视频檓 considering dropping my degree to help us pay our bills.国产视频听
Despite the costs, they wouldn国产视频檛 consider removing Yoomi from nursery. Elvira added: 国产视频淚t国产视频檚 so good for her development. She国产视频檚 learned so much in such a short space of time.”听
Eight years ago, world leaders set a target that by 2030 every girl and boy should have access to quality early childhood development, care and pre-primary education.听
"Governments need to realise how families are structured today. Most don国产视频檛 live in communities, with family members nearby anymore."
Elvira Grob, mother from London
But chronic underfunding means more than half of all children don国产视频檛 have access to the childcare they need and around half of pre-primary aged children aren国产视频檛 enrolled in any form of early education.听
Sarah Brown said: 国产视频淔or a child, the first five to six years are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity but this is being squandered on a global scale.听听
国产视频淧roviding for children in their early years must be treated as a public good, not a private test of a family国产视频檚 financial strength. Parents around the world should no longer be reduced to hoping for the best, crossing their fingers that the inadequate care they are often forced to use isn国产视频檛 a risk to their child国产视频檚 safety or their future prospects in life.听听
39%
Of parents who use childcare services in India have had to take on extra work to pay for the costs
国产视频淲e need to see a revolution for the early years that brings together governments, businesses, international agencies, parents, frontline workers, civil society, youth campaigners and grassroots groups to improve the lives of the world国产视频檚 youngest children.国产视频澨
国产视频 President Justin van Fleet called for every child to be given a 国产视频渃omprehensive package of care and education国产视频 for their first five years of life.
He said this should include 国产视频渁dequate nutrition, nurturing care, education and learning, the opportunity to be stimulated through play and protection for their health国产视频.听听听
He added: 国产视频淩adical change is needed in how we provide for children and their families. It needs to become a global priority, with not just proper investment but bright ideas and bold policy making across the board. Only then will we give all children the start in life they deserve.国产视频