Half of working mums would sooner be at home

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The survey found half of mums would choose to look after their children during the early years if they could afford to

Working mums are unhappy with poor-quality childcare and wish they could stay at home with their children, according to a survey published today.

Half would choose to be a full-time mum during the early years if they could afford to. Instead they said they had to leave their children in nurseries with staff they considered uncaring and lacking common sense.

But the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA), which represents the UK's day nurseries, said the survey and its findings was both "irresponsible and insulting".

A total of 2,000 working mums with one of more children under five in childcare were interviewed for the survey, for the TV channel Discovery Home and Health.

Seven out of 10 said their child was "happier with them than at nursery" and a similar number said "too many babies and young children are now in full-time childcare".

More than half thought their child's nursery let them sleep too long and a third thought their child's nursery staff lacked common sense.

Safety issues

One in 10 found their child's dietary needs were not being met, a quarter said their child had been left in a soiled nappy, and a fifth had raised "poor safety and security issues with nursery staff".

Three-quarters of all mums actually wanted a well-trained nanny to look after their child, despite only five per cent being able to afford one.

The survey also found that most working mothers felt guilty leaving their child in day care, and worried they were missing out on the early years.

Meanwhile, 62 per cent constantly worry about the cost of childcare with one in 10 having nothing left over after childcare costs.

Most believed the Government should financially help mothers to stay at home rather than be forced back to work.

The survey showed average childminder costs were £135 per week across the UK, a nursery was £144 outside London and £199 in London, and prices went up for children under two.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: "The high cost of childcare deters many women from returning to their jobs after their babies are born.

"But many want to go back, to develop their careers further and to earn enough to give their children a decent start in life.

"Despite significant investment from the Government, childcare in the UK still has a long way to go before it compares to the best of what is available elsewhere in Europe."

But Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of the NDNA, said it was "very surprised" by the survey's claims.

"The evidence shows that day nurseries are the most popular form of childcare for parents, and we question why this would be so if parents truly had so many issues."

"This survey insults both the hard work of nurseries who are committed to ensuring that children receive the best possible early years care and education and the choices parents have made."

 

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