Congleton's MP has called for better funding for early years childcare.

Backbenchers met in the House of Commons last Thursday (March 6) to debate topics around the theme of International Women's Day.

Sarah Russell took the opportunity to voice her concerns for the future of childcare.

She highlighted how an 'overwhelming majority' of the UK's childcare providers are female – 98 per cent of the 54,700-strong workforce.

She said: "It is some of the most undervalued work in our society, it is often paid at minimum wage, and other parents cannot work without it."

Labour is putting £1.8 billion of additional funding into the early years, which will see eligible children from nine months receive 30 hours of funded childcare from September this year.

The aim is that 75 per cent of children should arrive at primary school 'school ready', up from the most recent figure of 67.7 per cent.

Regarding the burden of at-home childcare should early years childcare continue to struggle, Mrs Russell referred in her speech to the ABC nursey chain in Australia.

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When the chain collapsed, '19,000 families lost their childcare overnight'.

She added: "I guarantee that it was predominantly women who did not go to work the next day, not those children's fathers". 

Urging a review of the rates that three and four-year-old childcare is paid, the MP said that 'a consolidated sector is inherently a fragile one'.

She continued, stating that she does not want to see 'passionate, women-owned businesses squeezed out of the sector", unable to compete as the big chains achieve economies of scale. 

Ending her speech, Mrs Russell said: "I want to say thank you to all of the women who have inspired me, both in this chamber and beyond, and all those women who have helped me.

"Most of all, though, I want to say thank you to the women who looked after me, and the women who look after my children."

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