Poor access to childcare leading to educational disadvantage

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Many parents know how hard it is to get their kids on a waitlist for childcare but for people living in already disadvantaged areas, it's even worse. These areas have been labelled, 'daycare deserts'.

Transcript

00:00Bethan Rees enrolled daughter Ada in daycare when she was four months pregnant, but it wasn't early enough to secure a place.

00:09She lived in Alice Springs, one of the country's childcare deserts.

00:13Not having enough days meant that I had to give up a job that I was really passionate about.

00:19Ada was nearly two when she finally got one day a week of care, but it wasn't worth the wait.

00:24The centre's overstretched conditions shocked her mum.

00:28Things like her sleep routine and her attachment were really affected during that time.

00:35The impact of kids like Ada missing out has now been quantified in a new report.

00:41The Mitchell Institute found disadvantaged kids can start to lag behind in educational outcomes from as young as two.

00:48By the time that children reach school, that trajectory's really set.

00:52When children start school behind, they stay behind.

00:55The report's authors say early intervention is the solution.

00:59But with one in four Australians living in childcare deserts, the most vulnerable are missing out.

01:04In some neighbourhoods there can be up to 16 children competing for one childcare spot, which is just not good enough.

01:12Both sides of politics are trying to convince voters they have the answers.

01:16Labor says it will fund three days a week of care for all kids, and it's got a billion dollar fund to build centres in childcare deserts.

01:24The Coalition is yet to release its policy, but says it will provide a flexible alternative with local solutions in regional areas.

01:32Are you going to put it on for me?

01:34No doubt an issue front of mind for parents of kids like Ada.

01:38No doubt.

01:39.

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