The importance of childcare to people returning to further education and training (FET).

ECI welcomes the publication of two reports highlighting the importance of quality, accessible and affordable childcare to people returning to further education and training (FET). Earlier this year, Aontas (the National Adult Learning Organisation) published a policy report building on findings from the National Adult Learning Forum in February 2016.  At the Forum, learners identified childcare options, facilities and funding as impediments to their FET.  They identified a general lack of information and awareness about childcare options and the need for onsite childcare facilities to support them to continue in further learning. This led to the following recommendation:  Increase childcare supports for learners that need it most and make information on these supports readily available for adult learners.

The findings from the National Adult Learning Forum are echoed in the more recent review commissioned by the Department of Education and Skills to look specifically at the supports and barriers for lone parents in accessing higher education. The independent review, conducted by Delma Byrne and Clíona Murray of Maynooth University, also examined measures to increase participation by lone parents and makes for very interesting reading. There was unanimous agreement in interviews conducted for the review that lone parents require greater childcare support from the State.  Among the issues raised by interviewees were the following:

• The differential childcare rates/bands, according to the type of welfare payment, meaning that all lone-parents are not eligible for the same rates of subsidised childcare.
• Many eligible lone-parents who are students cannot access CETS (SOLAS & ETB courses) or CCS (HE courses at Level 6+) because the programmes are oversubscribed or because of a lack of local childcare provision.
• Many lone parent students, especially ethnic minorities, lone parents in reception centres and teen parents, cannot afford the parental co-payment.
• Many universities and Higher Education Institutions have private crèches on campus but little access to onsite community childcare facilities.
• Lone parent students would greatly benefit from onsite school aged childcare facilities.
• Parental status should be routinely collated by the Higher Education Authority or the Department of Education and Skills to enable HEIs to better support lone-parent students.

ECI will be using the findings of both these reports to inform and support our advocacy, particularly in the continuing development of the Affordable Childcare Scheme. We are calling for the full Affordable Childcare Scheme to be rolled out in September 2018 and hope the additional time will be used to ensure improved quality of early childhood care and education for children; sustainability for childcare services and their staff; access and affordability for parents, especially in low-income and marginalised families.