A third of working families cut working hours due to challenges accessing early years places
A third of parents have had to reduce their working hours due to difficulties accessing early education and childcare, research from charity Working Families has found.
The survey of 3,000 working parents with children up to 11 found that 31% requested flexible working to balance their work with their career.
Nearly a quarter (24%) said they rely on partners or other family members for support who have had to quit their job or reduce their hours. Overall, 16% said challenges when accessing childcare and early education has prompted them to avoid applying for new roles.
However, despite support nearly half (46%) said they find it difficult to maintain boundaries between their job and home life.
Overall, 75% said they regularly work overtime with nearly a quarter (23%) claiming it is the only way they are able to manage their workload. Meanwhile over a quarter (28%) work variable hours, with a fifth (19%) working remotely and 15% only working term-time hours to mitigate any childcare issues.
In addition, while 62% claimed their employer cares about their work life balance, half (51%) have previously avoided applying for a job because it didn鈥檛 offer flexible working.
Jane van Zyl, CEO at Working Families, said: 鈥淎ccessing affordable and reliable childcare has become a significant challenge for many families.
鈥淎 lot of parents are struggling to balance work and family life due to limited availability, rising costs, and long waiting lists. It's not just an inconvenience - it's a barrier that impacts career opportunities, financial stability, and overall well-being.鈥
鈥淔lexible working is not only a benefit鈥攊t's a necessity for today鈥檚 parents who are juggling work and family life. By offering more adaptable work arrangements, we empower parents to be present for their children while continuing to thrive professionally.
鈥淲e鈥檒l be paying close attention to the upcoming changes to the Employment Bill to see how the Government are planning to overcome the challenges working parents are facing through more robust flexible working policies.鈥
Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said: "It is disappointing, but sadly not at all unsurprising, that a third of families have had to reduce their working hours due to difficulties accessing early education and childcare
"We know that nurseries, pre-schools and childminders are doing their best to provide enough early years places to meet increasing demand, but the fact is that the sector is facing severe capacity challenges due to an ever-worsening staffing crisis 鈥 a situation that will only become more pressurised as the expansion of the early entitlement offer continues to roll out, unless urgent action is taken by government.
"That's why we at the Alliance continue to call on ministers to deliver a comprehensive early years staffing strategy 鈥 one that focuses on both recruitment and retention 鈥 underpinned by a commitment to adequately fund the early years sector both now and in the future.
"Only then we will be able to build and maintain an early years system where all families can access the places they need, when and where they need them 鈥 and crucially, where all children can benefit from the high quality early education and care they deserve.