Important Topics

Just like all other European Union countries, families in the United Kingdom face many decisions regarding how to balance work and family. This page explores the many concerns, burdens and solutions to childcare issues in the United Kingdom.

On average, the United Kingdom spent £63M on childcare services in 2000. These services included:

• Domestic help
• Nursey
• Play School
• Crèche (french for day care center)

With childcare expenses burdening many United Kingdom families, many have opted to use informal childcare solutions. These include:

• Neighbors
• Family members
• In-home day care centers

Childcare and Poverty

• 3.6 million children (28%) in Britain live in poverty.
• One-parent families are among the poorest in Britain – making up 21 per cent of those living in poverty.
• There is one registered childcare place for every four children under the age of 8 in low-income areas of Britain.

Helpful Links:

4Children's Website - National charity dedicated to creating opportunities for children and their futures.

Bernardo's - Leading UK charity dedicated offering support to children, young people and families in need.

Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care - An independent institution set up to regulate care services in Scotland.

National Childcare Charity - National organization established to promote high quality affordable childcare for all.

References

National Statistics Online. Labour Force Survey, 2003. Published on 8 January 2004.

       Office of National Statistics. Retrieved October 28 2006. (http://www.statistics.gov.uk/CCI/nugget.asp?ID=436).

National Statistics Online. Children’s Day Care Facilities in England. Published on 19

       October 2001. Office of National Statistics. Retrieved November 30 2006.

(http://www.statistics.gov.uk/STATBASE/Product.asp?vlnk=2253).

Arksey, Hilary. 2002. "Combining informal care and work: supporting carers in the

        workplace." Health & Social Care in the Community 10(3): 151-161.