Childcare to be Treated as Infrastructure

Childcare to be Treated as Infrastructure

Following an initiative by Labour MP Stella Creasey, childcare will now be treated as national infrastructure. After gaining cross-party support for her amendment to the government’s Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, currently before parliament, Creasey was able to persuade ministers to agree that childcare fell within the existing definition of infrastructure, meaning the law does not have to be changed. What this means is that large housing developers will have to pay towards the construction of new childcare facilities, just as they do with other infrastructure such as schools, GP’s surgeries and public transport.

The move reflects a growing understanding of how critical childcare is to the economy. Simply put, it is no longer acceptable for new housing to be planned that does not have access to childcare. Moreover, it acknowledges the fact that most childcare is not attached to existing school buildings but operates from its own premises. Although this might seem obvious to people within the sector, it is a common misconception that schools are something of a universal hub. (In fact, you might sometimes be forgiven for thinking certain policymakers believe children pop into the world aged 4 or above).

Although the move will not impact today’s childcare providers directly, it is the first indication in quite some time that there is political will to shore up the UK’s childcare provision for the future. However, with strong economic headwinds buffeting the sector, more immediate help may yet be necessary to avoid a crisis.