Providing free childcare for all families until the end of primary school could boost the UK economy by £13bn per year, according to a new report.
Research by think-tank The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) and Save the Children says that reforming childcare up to the age of 11 could also “raise educational attainment, narrow the gap for disadvantaged children and help achieve equal pay for women”.
Plans including increasing funded childcare hours for two-year-olds and providing free wraparound care from 8am to 6pm for all primary school children could benefit 1.6 million children with low-income families gaining the most, according to the report.
