One in four lockdown parents considered quitting work

ONE in four parents have considered giving up work or reducing their hours due to childcare issues during lockdown, a survey suggests.

More than two in three (69%) working parents – who have been trying to balance work demands with home schooling – said in June they did not have any alternative childcare options available to them.

Education lawyers have warned that a second lockdown would have a “devastating impact” on families who have felt the strain of childcare and home schooling on top of their work commitments.

A survey, commissioned by law firm Simpson Millar, suggests nearly a fifth (18%) of parents think secondary schools have not done enough to support their children’s education needs, while 15% of parents with primary school children said the school could have done more during lockdown.

Schools closed their doors to the majority of pupils in March, which will mean some children in England will have been out of the classroom for nearly six months when they return to school full-time in September.

Nearly half (45%) of parents said that their mental health had been impacted by being at home with their children during lockdown, according to the poll of 1,001 parents across the UK, shared with the PA news agency.

Of the 871 working parents who were surveyed, 25% said they had considered reducing their working hours or giving up work because of childcare issues.

The survey suggests more than a fifth (23%) said their employer could not accommodate flexible working.

The report also found that nearly two in five (38%) parents said their child’s mood had been negatively affected by the Covid-19 lockdown.

It warned: “This raises concerns that there will be an increase in behavioural issues as a result of increased anxiety once children do return to school.”

The report also warns that lockdown may lead to future “obesity issues” as half of parents have noticed a drop in their child’s physical activity levels, while 30% said they were worried their children were eating less healthily.

The parents surveyed said affordability of fresh fruit and vegetables, a lack of school dinners and issues with getting to the supermarket had contributed.