Childcare isn't just kid's stuff – it can be vital for regenerating deprived communities. But it must be factored into housing projects from the start. Stephen Burke and Jess Steele, the authors of a new policy statement on the topic, explain why and how
These days planners think about the needs of tenants from almost every angle, from ground plans to deter burglars down to measurements to ensure noise insulation. They consider everything including the kitchen sink – except, that is, one of the most obvious and important needs: childcare.

Factoring childminding into designs for new housing at the outset is vital – and when it doesn't happen, regeneration strategies can be seriously impaired. Tacking a creche onto an estate later makes it difficult to find a site with enough outdoor and indoor space – lack of space is a huge constraint on London estates in particular. And if childcare facilities are missing parents may not be able to go out to work, impeding economic growth in areas that desperately need it.

To drive home the message that childcare provision needs to be at the heart of regeneration, two organisations have decided to lock arms. The Daycare Trust, a charity that campaigns for high-quality affordable childcare, and the British Urban Regeneration Association, which promotes best practice in regeneration, plan to push for childcare to be built into housing developments early on. They want to see more integration of the government's National Childcare Strategy and its Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy.

New father Gordon Brown doesn't need much persuading, and he has recently announced that children's centres catering to a range of family needs are to be introduced around deprived estates. Meanwhile government initiatives such as Sure Start, which aims to give all children an equal start, already target disadvantaged communities. But the Daycare Trust and the BURA believe that, at regional development agency level, there is much convincing to be done – and much to be learned from existing initiatives (First steps, below).

Affordable childcare allows parents to return to work or train for new employment. Paid employment can lift families out of poverty and training helps parents get better paid work in the future. This brings benefits to the local community by growing the potential workforce, raising the skills base available to local businesses and increasing the wealth circulating in the local economy.

Childcare needn't break the bank either. PricewaterhouseCoopers recently reported that universal childcare across the UK could have a net benefit of £40bn to the economy over a 65-year period just because it would allow more mothers to work.

Quality support in the earliest years also has lasting effects for children. It can lay a firm foundation for them to continue learning throughout the rest of their lives. Studies from the USA have shown that pre-school programmes can raise school achievement and lifetime earnings, and reduce the likelihood of involvement in crime or having to depend on benefits as adults.

Investing in good early education and childcare services can bring up to a sevenfold return on investment, according to American studies. This comes from the reduced likelihood of children needing special educational support later in life; lower costs because of less crime; increased taxes due to higher earnings; and smaller welfare costs.

The government's earmarking of funds to create a children's centre in each of the most disadvantaged areas in England within the next five years is a big step forward. There is also a long-term commitment to establish a children's centre in every community.

The vision is of centres that bring together a variety of support for families – including childcare and health services, early education and employment opportunities for adults – under one roof at the heart of a community. So the centres will need to work closely with regeneration and housing partners.

Childcare is everyone's business. All levels of government, regeneration agencies, job centres and employers need to work together to give our kids the best start.

First steps: two new childcare projects

The East London Childcare Institute opened in April this year in an area of high unemployment in Stratford. It was set up by a partnership led by Newham Training and Education Centre and has staff from the childcare, regeneration and voluntary sectors. The institute, which is funded from the ODPM’s Single Regeneration Budget and the London Development Agency, directs its services at unemployed or low-income groups, particularly those from minority ethnic communities. The hope is to create 1000 qualified childcare workers over the next five years by running training courses, from introductory to degree level. It will also provide careers advice for existing childcare workers and support for people wanting to set up a childcare business, as well as basic skills training for adult learners. Thresholds is a partnership of organisations coordinated by the Peabody Trust, set up to overcome barriers to training and employment faced by residents of inner-city estates. The aim of the project is to establish nine Thresholds centres across Lambeth, Southwark and Tower Hamlets, providing 540 new childcare places and a supported childminders network of 200 carers. It will create 150 jobs and help more than 500 people return to work. A Thresholds centre will provide out-of-school care, childminding information sessions and childcare training, advice on employment and training opportunities, and debt counselling. Other activities such as crafts and IT courses are also available. Partners working with the new centres include Peabody Residents Association and a range of childcare and lone parents organisations.

Source

Housing Today

Postscript

Stephen Burke is director of national childcare charity Daycare Trust. Jess Steele is deputy chief executive of the BURA. The Daycare Trust and the BURA plan to hold further regional joint events on childcare and regeneration. For copies of their joint policy statement, Starting Early – Quality Childcare is Key to Creating Sustainable Communities, contact the Daycare Trust on 020 7840 3350 or go to www.daycaretrust.org.uk