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Childcare gap taking 'huge financial and emotional strain' on North East familiesNew research from Health Equity North has warned that a lack of suitable childcare options is having a

devastating impact on some of our region's most vulnerable familiesCommentsDaniel Holland Local Democracy Reporter01:00, 05 Jun 2025Parents say they are facing steep childcare costs (Image:

PA) A lack of suitable childcare is taking a “huge financial and emotional strain” on the North East’s most vulnerable families, new analysis has warned. Research released today lays bare

the desperate situation faced by many households across the region as parents and carers struggling to find the childcare they need – and are left feeling isolated, facing huge costs and

with major knock-on effects for their own jobs and their children’s education.

The study from academics at Health Equity North, Newcastle University and The University of Manchester details the plight of North East parents forced to make cutbacks to meet the cost of

childcare, experiencing a “loss of identity” as they have little time for themselves beyond work and childcare, and struggling to claim childcare support. It adds that many parents also face

a “chicken or egg” dilemma where they need to be in employment in order to access the childcare support they need in order to get and keep a job, while providers are under “significant

pressure” as they struggle to find and retain qualified staff.

‌ The report’s authors are now calling for reforms to childcare funding and benefits “to ensure it is transparent, fully covers costs, and supports parents balancing work and caregiving”,

more investment in early years education, and improved pay and conditions for childcare sector workers to reduce staff shortages. Dr Steph Scott, a senior lecturer at Newcastle University,

said: “For so many families across the North East and beyond, access to childcare is not simply a luxury.

‌ "It’s an essential lifeline, allowing them to maintain jobs, a source of income and even a sense of self. While some work has been done by recent governments, many of our most vulnerable

are still finding themselves left out.”

The report also warns there is a “lack of a clear and comprehensive understanding of specific local needs with regards to childcare affordability, accessibility and availability in the North

East” and calls for a detailed assessment to be carried out. It adds that the childcare gap is having a particularly damaging effects for North East families already marginalised –

including those with special educational needs and disabilities, households experiencing family separation or addiction recovery and where English is the second language.

Article continues below Dr Natalie Bennett, research fellow at The University of Manchester, said: “The families, carers and childcare providers we interviewed across the North East offered

an honest and often distressing reminder of the importance of childcare - and what an absence of support can do to their financial and emotional health. Without adequate childcare, parents

often find themselves isolated, facing mounting costs, and their children can find it more difficult to adjust to school as they grow older. Urgent action is needed to give families the help

they need - and to ensure childcare providers are supported in delivering care that makes a real difference.”

North East mayor Kim McGuinness recently confirmed the launch of a new childcare grant programme worth up to £6,800 for parents, which is being trialled in County Durham before being rolled

out wider across the region. The mayor, who is preparing to publish the country’s first Child Poverty Action Plan next month, said: “Good childcare is often the difference between a child

growing up in poverty or a family being able to live a fuller life and thrive. It can help children grow in confidence, and imagine a better future.

“That’s why this report is so important, and why we have created a Mayor’s Childcare Grant in North East England to bridge the gaps in existing provision. We are committed to standing up for

high-quality, affordable childcare - because it’s something that can be truly transformative for families in the North East and beyond. As this report highlights, there is still more to be

done to help more people access this support. We need to ensure that funding is more accessible for all, and that we consider the barriers that many face, particularly when trying to find

employment.”