GOOD quality childcare is essential everywhere and crucial for closing the gender pay gap, the TUC said today, after new data found that poorer areas have less access to services.

According to figures published by the Office for National Statistics, affluent cities like St Albans and Cambridge had the highest levels of childcare access, with up to 43 registered childcare places per 100 children.

Nine out of 10 local authority areas with the most places had a higher-than-average gross disposable household income (GDHI).

Torridge and Walsall meanwhile had only 12 places per 100 children respectively.

And in Sunderland, where more than one in three children are living in poverty, there were only 14 places per 100 children. 

All the areas with the lowest levels of childcare access had a lower-than-average GDHI. Six out of 10 areas were among the poorest in the country.

Regionally, the West Midlands had the least amount of places accessible by public transport, with only 13 available per 100. 

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak highlighted that childcare access “contributes massively to closing the gender pay gap.”   

He added: “Women shouldn’t have to give up or cut down paid work because they can’t find the right care for their children.   

“We desperately need quality childcare for all families — regardless of where they live — so that all children can access early years education and all mums who want to work can do so.” 

A TUC analysis published last year found that more than 1.46 million women are out of the labour market because of their caring responsibilities.