Tens of thousands of low-income families in England have to pay to return to work after having children because childcare provision discourages work, according to a report.
The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has called for a government-funded universal preschool childcare starting immediately after parental leave to replace an “incomplete patchwork” of childcare provision.
The move would improve tax receipts, upskill the workforce and improve childhood outcomes, argues the IPPR.
If childcare to enable work costs more than the value of the work done then the childcare shouldn’t happen – nor should the work. Instead the low paid work should be replaced by people taking care of their own children.
Prices really do tell us what it’s worth doing you know…..
The argument is that women will lose their skills if they’re out of the workforce for a few years. That may be true in some professions (e.g. lawyers need to keep up with changes in the law); but those tend to be jobs which pay enough to cover childcare in the first place.
But Tim, how can the state push its cultural change agenda onto the kiddiewinks if it doesn’t get its claws into them super early?
When I was leaving the Army and doing a resettlement course we had a talk from a guy who’d set up lots of businesses. He reckoned the best off PCR manager he’d ever had had been out of the workforce for 15 years to raise 3 boys.
This is why women should have their kids in quick succession starting at 16. You can still “do college” in your 20s and start working no later than early 30s.
A modest increase in child benefit paid to stay at home mothers (or fathers) would achieve the same benefit to the family. But would deprive the state of additional sources of NI, income tax, etc.
“ best off PCR manager”
Grrr “best office managers”
Rushing to get away.
Got some real world data for you. One of my friends has just been organising child care for her 1 y/o. Kindergarden run by her local authority charges 200€/month, 13:30 to 17:00 including food.
You seen the state of the public spending side of the Spanish economy? Or the state of the entire Spanish economy? At least you’re not paying for it now,
@BiND If you’ve ridden herd on 3 boys + associated friends for 15 years, managing an office is basically reverting back to playground petty peeves and ego’s..
So yeah… can imagine (s)he was good… 😉
“If childcare to enable work costs more than the value of the work done”
It probably doesn’t. What does is the cost of childcare plus the taxes levied on the childcare providers than the work done minus the taxes levied on the work.