Even more difficult for parents to find childcare outside of normal hours
According to the figures from the Family and Childcare Trust, there is only a percentage of providers offering childcare for parents working shift patterns or other hours that don’t fit into a usual working day. As the percentage is very low, this makes it increasing difficult for those parents who work shift parents and unusual hours to find childcare.
The demand for more flexible and affordable childcare is increasing with many families working outside of normal hours for instance nurses, doctors, etc.
Most nurseries and childminders opening hours are within the hours of 7 am to 7 pm with the exception of some nurseries closing slightly later. The majority of nurseries are unable to offer parents different days each week as this would cause a financial loss for them.
Without the option of flexible childcare hours many parents returning to work after maternity are having to consider the option of not returning to work. The only expensive option parents would have is to pay for full-time hours.
For parent’s who are looking for care out of normal hours are also being penalised due to not being able to access free funding hours as the hours can only be offered during ‘normal working hours.’
According to Childcare minister Sam Gyimah childcare needs to be more flexibles, enabling parents to have further choices over childcare hours. At present, the free funding hours are only available between the hours of 7 am and 7 pm, however, there are plans to extend this and offer them between the hours of 6 am and 8 pm, this decision with depending on providers willing to offer the scheme between these hours.