London, Thursday 5 September 2024 – Research from the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) finds that 62% of parents of children aged 0-4 years think that childcare is one of the biggest challenges facing families with young children today. The YouGov survey found that 44% of parents said they worry about childcare ‘a lot’ or ‘all of the time’, and 21% said they worried about their child’s readiness to start school. Families on lower incomes (£19,999 or below a year) were more than twice as likely (38%) to be worrying ‘all’ or ‘a lot of the time’ about school readiness when compared to higher earners (14%), households of £60,000 or more a year.
This Autumn Term, hundreds of thousands of children will be starting school, but too many will not be developmentally ready. This means many may find it hard to socialise or play with others, follow instructions from their teacher or find it difficult to go to the toilet on their own. According to the latest Government data, almost 1 in 3 children will not attain ‘good’ level of development by the end of reception, which increases to almost 50% of those from the poorest households.
UNICEF UK says that quality and affordable childcare, alongside more opportunities to learn at home and in the community, would help prepare children for school, reduce family stress, and improve the attainment gap for those on lower incomes.
Despite recent expansions in free childcare, the charity’s research finds that parents are still finding it difficult and costly to find appropriate childcare places for their children, with over 40% of parents reporting long waiting lists and that finding a place was ‘a stressful experience’. The research also reveals big concerns for life at home – a crucial factor in a child’s development – with close to half (49%) of low-income families reporting a lack of affordable or suitable housing, and 1 in 4 (25%) reporting to be unable to pay for activities that they believe would aid their child’s learning. Among those who said the rising cost of living had affected their family, 39% reported reduced spending on books, toys, or crafting materials.
Joanna Rea, Director of Advocacy for the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) said: “Recent expansions to childcare from the last Government will not reverse the years of under investment in early childhood. We know that babies, toddlers, and families are still not getting the support they need and that many parents are worried about their child’s readiness to start school. This follows years of a broken childcare system, patchy local services, and parents cutting back on books and activities in the face of tight family finances.
“We welcome the government’s commitment to close the learning gap, but we now need a strategy for delivering affordable and accessible childcare, increased financial support to families, and investment in comprehensive local services for parents and young children.”
The government has made development in early childhood a ‘number one priority,’ but UNICEF UK says this can only be delivered with a ‘National Baby and Toddler Guarantee,’ – a package of support and services which will give every child the best start in life. Recommendations include fixing childcare, investing in home learning and local services, and increasing financial support to families – this includes immediately ending the two-child limit.
Notes to editors:
For more information please contact the UNICEF UK media team on 0207 375 6030 [email protected]
UNICEF UK’s Early Moments Matter campaign
UNICEF UK’s Early Moments Matter campaign is calling on the UK Government to invest properly in early childhood and deliver a Baby and Toddler Guarantee, so that parents and carers can access the vital services and financial support to help them and their baby now and set them up for success in the future. Families need a range of support, but the campaign is focusing on financial support for parents, access to early education and childcare, and parents’ mental health as an urgent priority.
Find out more about the campaign, what is included in the Guarantee, or sign the petition here.
About the research conducted by YouGov
Unicef UK commissioned a nationally representative survey of 2892 parents of children aged 0-4 years living in Great Britain in May and June 2024. Data tables are available on request.
| 2023 | 2024 |
| Sample: 2661 Parents of 0–4-year-olds living in Great Britain | Sample: 2892 Parents of 0–4-year-olds living in Great Britain |
| Methodology: This survey has been conducted using an online interview administered to members of the YouGov Plc UK panel of 2.5 million+ individuals who have agreed to take part in surveys. Emails are sent to panellists selected at random from the base sample. The e-mail invites them to take part in a survey and provides a generic survey link. Once a panel member clicks on the link, they are sent to the survey that they are most required for, according to the sample definition and quotas. (The sample definition could be “GB adult population” or a subset such as “GB adult females”). Invitations to surveys do not expire and respondents can be sent to any available survey. The responding sample is weighted to the profile of the sample definition to provide a representative reporting sample. The profile is normally derived from census data or, if not available from the census, from industry accepted data. | Methodology: This survey has been conducted using an online interview administered to members of the YouGov Plc UK panel of 2.5 million+ individuals who have agreed to take part in surveys. Emails are sent to panellists selected at random from the base sample. The e-mail invites them to take part in a survey and provides a generic survey link. Once a panel member clicks on the link, they are sent to the survey that they are most required for, according to the sample definition and quotas. (The sample definition could be “GB adult population” or a subset such as “GB adult females”). Invitations to surveys do not expire and respondents can be sent to any available survey. The responding sample is weighted to the profile of the sample definition to provide a representative reporting sample. The profile is normally derived from census data or, if not available from the census, from industry accepted data. |
| Fieldwork: 19th July – 28th July 2023 | Fieldwork Dates: 10th May – 2nd June 2024 |
| Editors Notes: All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2661 parents of children under 5. Fieldwork was undertaken between 19th July – 28th July 2023. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all parents by region only. | Editors Notes: All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2892 parents of children aged four and under. Fieldwork was undertaken between 10th May – 2nd June 2024. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of parents of children aged four and under in GB. |
About UNICEF
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.
The UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) raises funds for UNICEF’s emergency and development work for children. We also promote and protect children’s rights in the UK and internationally. We are a UK charity, entirely funded by supporters.
United Kingdom Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK), Registered Charity No. 1072612 (England & Wales), SC043677 (Scotland).
For more information visit unicef.org.uk. Follow UNICEF UK on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.