Parents of disabled children facing 'childcare crisis'
Meanwhile 2m grandparents have given up work, reduced hours or taken time off to look after grandchildren
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Nearly two million grandparents have given up a job, reduced their hours or taken time off to look after grandchildren.
An Ipsos Mori poll reveals that they are giving significant time and financial contributions towards their grandchildren when national childcare costs have risen by 27 per cent over the past five years. One in eight said they had spent more than £1,000 as a result.
The poll comes as a cross-party inquiry by MPs and peers has found that parents of disabled children are facing a “childcare crisis”, with almost three-quarters of families with disabled children forced to cut back or give up work because of childcare problems.
Four in 10 families with nursery age disabled children are unable to access the free childcare due to a lack of places and funding, the Parliamentary Inquiry into Childcare for Disabled Children has found.
Eighty-six per cent of parent carers said they paid above-average childcare costs. Robert Buckland, co-chairman of the inquiry, said disabled children had been failed despite “an improving choice for other families”.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments