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Housing associations ‘must do more’ to promote affordable childcare, study says
Childcare-related work done by housing associations is often “ad hoc” and landlords should look to make affordable childcare provision a priority in communities, a new report has said.
A study by the New Economics Foundation (NEF) thinktank, commissioned by landlord Peabody, called for affordable childcare to be “at the heart of housing associations’ placemaking and employment programmes”.
The report referenced OECD statistics which show the UK has the second most expensive childcare system in the world, while working parents of young children are 33% more likely to earn minimum wage or lower and often work fewer hours.
The NEF and Peabody said that childcare-related work done by housing associations is diverse, including offering commercial properties at reduced rent to nurseries, helping to facilitate and develop parent-led childcare, and supporting resident to get qualifications and work in the childcare sector.
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But the report said that work is often ad hoc and siloed, and called for a joined-up approach between community investment, commercial portfolio management and development functions to ensure childcare is an essential element of these programmes.
It also recommended engaging with residents to understand their challenges and work with them to develop improvements.
Housing associations should develop social value leases with childcare provision that can demonstrate its impact on society and the environment, it added.
The sector was also urged to reach out to experts in the affordable childcare sector and support calls for accessible and affordable childcare for all.
Stephen Burns, executive director for care and communities at Peabody, said: “If we’re serious about helping people succeed and prosper through employment and enterprise, then we have to do more to tackle the barriers that prevent people working.
“The challenges are huge and the level of government funding is a problem, but by supporting the experts, co-designing services, hosting nurseries and putting childcare at the heart of our wide-ranging placemaking agendas, we can step up our impact.”
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