Childcare: failing to meet the needs of working parents

Childcare provision has failed to keep up with changing working patterns, with nearly 70% of all working parents now working ‘atypical’ hours. Many are struggling to find suitable childcare provision as a result. The report shows that at least one partner in 75% of families on low-to-middle incomes and in over 90% of families on higher incomes works outside the hours of 8am-6pm, once thought of as the normal working day. The growth in service sectors has meant that UK workers are more likely to work on weekends or at night including in shops, hotels, restaurants and in health and social work.