The CEO of several nurseries across Bristol has opened up about some of the challenges facing the childcare sector in the city. This comes as new figures show families in the South West are now spending more than £1,100 a month on childcare on average
The TUC found that the average family in the region now spends £1,147 on childcare each month - which equates to £13,764 a year. A protest demanding affordable childcare, improvements in parental leave and flexible working hours is coming to Bristol this Saturday.
Ahead of this, we are looking into the state of childcare in the city and are looking to speak with both families and providers. From long waiting lists to being let down last minute and annual costs running into the thousands, we would love to hear your experience. Please contact our reporter Estel directly on estel.farellroig@reachplc.com
Read next: Bristol families spending over £1,100 a month on childcare
Anne Malindine is the co-founder and CEO of Raised in Bristol, which has four nurseries across Easton, St Pauls and Southmead. Ms Malindine said there are a few challenges facing the childcare sector in Bristol right now - including the fact it has been undervalued and underfunded for many years.
"Choosing a career in early years education has traditionally meant being poorly paid with few opportunities for a structured career progression," she continued. "It hasn’t been a career of choice – but deserves to be.
"It’s also very clear there’s a very high demand for places – without enough supply. The high value of property in the city makes it difficult to create more spaces where they’re needed. But without such vital infrastructure being available, working becomes unsustainable."
The CEO of Raised in Bristol said that recruitment and retention can also be an issue in the sector and that, in their case, it is not a constant challenge "but it is always on our radar". Early years professionals aren't always paid a fair wage, she added, and to address this they decided to be a Real Living Wage employer - which has been set to £10.90 per hour outside London.
They also offer benefits such as half price childcare and enhanced maternity packages as well as extra paid days of holiday and a paid lunch break, with the latter not being standard in the sector, she continued.
Ms Malindine said that, in their experience, there aren't enough nursery spaces in the city, leaving many parents desperately looking for a space. The CEO said that some of their established nurseries can have long waiting lists, but that their newer nurseries have a few places available.
"There are simply not enough places to meet the demand generally," she continued. "Bristol has a young population and lots of young families.
"There’s a high level of employment but the creation of more nursery places is restricted by competition for space and high property prices. Raised in Bristol would like to open more nurseries across the city to meet the demand - so we are always on the lookout for spaces.
"Against all odds, we opened two new nurseries during the pandemic and it’s our ambition to continue this work. Our social enterprise business model makes us unique and is part of our story.
"Our society simply can’t afford not to provide essential infrastructure such as nurseries. This was demonstrated during the pandemic when nurseries staffed by key workers, provided support to enable other vital key workers to continue working.
"The early years sector hasn’t had the recognition that other sectors have received for staying open throughout the pandemic to provide a service to working families and also to protect society’s youngest members from the negative developmental effects of isolation."
Ms Malindine - who has worked in the early years sector for 17 years - said it would be wonderful if all childcare was free and that there is already some government funding for three-years-olds for some hours every week, but that the hourly rate of that contribution doesn't cover the cost of providing the service.
"If that rate was increased and extended to all pre-school ages, it would make a very big difference to families," she continued. "Raised in Bristol’s highest costs are salaries and the rent paid to our community partners.
"The full impact of rising prices is unfolding as the weeks go by. We know that general running costs are affected – energy, salaries, maintenance of buildings and equipment are all rising."
She added: "The government funding for three-year-olds is a welcome contribution to families’ nursery fees. But there isn’t a commitment to review annually nor for reviews to be made against a specific measure such as the cost of living, for example.
"Bristol City Council is consulting on just such a review across the city right now in response to central government’s request for information. So watch this space.
"The conversation about the impact of childcare costs for working parents is nearly always about the impact on mothers. As women earn substantially less than men over their lifetimes, surely it’s time to talk about this as a parental cost and for employers to acknowledge that they employ parents who are both men and women?
"This issue shouldn’t be gendered – it affects fathers too. In a competitive employment market, an attraction and benefit could be subsidised childcare costs – appealing to both men and women who are parents.
"This issue affects employers too. Excellent childcare and early years education is an essential part of the economic and employment infrastructure of our society but it’s rarely acknowledged as such.
"Our society can’t afford not to provide it for those families who need and want it. There is a huge demand for the government to do more.
"RiB takes children from six months old, but these children don't receive funding until they reach three years old. A change to widen that funding would have a huge impact on families."
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- Expectant mums told Cossham birth centre could close until Christmas
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