Childcare in London

The Economy Committee is holding a two-part investigation examining the state of childcare for pre-school aged children in London, looking at the impact on both parents and childcare providers in the capital.

The annual Childcare Survey 2023, which is run by the charity Coram Family and Childcare, highlights that within England, the highest cost of several types of childcare provision is in Inner London.

The Centre for Progressive Policy’s findings reveal that among mothers who reported struggling with access to childcare, 15% had to quit their jobs and 30% had to reduce the hours that they worked.

The first part of the investigation will explore the impact of costs and levels of provision on the users of childcare, particularly considering the impact of childcare costs on women and their careers, and the knock-on impact this has on London’s economy.

The second part of this investigation will consider the challenges faced by childcare providers in London, including the availability of provision, access to funding, pay and working conditions.