Since the start of June formal childcare such as Nurseries and Childminders has reopened to provide a much needed lifeline to working families.  Unfortunately this has led to some families being disadvantaged where they use informal (for instance grandparents) rather than formal childcare.  This is especially true of parents of children under three years old who do not qualify for state funded childcare and may not be in a position that they can afford to fund nursery or childminder support themselves.

The wider opening of Lockdown has exacerbated the situation with people now returning to work.  Parents who are unable to fund childcare are beginning to be put in a position that they are unable to both care for their children or perform in their role effectively, this is increasingly worrying given the instability in the jobs market currently and risks a disparity between workers who are unable to attend their workplace due to childcare responsibilities vs those that either have no children or children who qualify for state funded childcare.  

We are asking that the Government confirm that in England the rules applicable to formal childcare during lockdown have been extended to informal childcare, especially for those with Children under three, or, if they are unable to extend the rules to encompass informal childcare that state funded childcare will be extended to under 3s to provide equity and parity for working parents.