Norfolk mum calls for more incentives to encourage couples to have children
A report suggests 81% of parents are concerned about the lack of school places and funding
A mum from Norfolk is telling us young couples need to be given greater incentivises to have children - to help slow our county's aging population.
It's as the General Election edges ever closer, with each of the political parties setting out how they'd tackle rising childcare costs and increase provision.
"It's issues like these that go into school years"
Rebecca Wright also campaigns on behalf of the maternity rights group 'Pregnant then Screwed': "I know that things are tight and often getting getting tighter, and I only have one child.
"It's issues like these that go into school years, wrap-around care is just as important as pre-school care and nurseries.
"If the workforce continues to dwindle, that means there will be less people to staff jobs in education, health-care and other key services. It means we'll struggle to support public services."
How important is the issue of childcare to voters?
Research from the Early Education and Childcare Coalition (EECC) and More in Common has found that two thirds (68%) of voters want the next government to prioritise early education and childcare as much as primary school.
Eight in ten (81%) parents of children under five are concerned about the availability of places. In addition, three-quarters (77%) of parents of children with SEND are concerned about the availability of places, compared to 59% of all parents.
Overall, more than seven in ten (73%) of all voters support increasing sector funding to enable providers offer more places. An overwhelming majority (80%) said children should be able to access early education and childcare regardless of where they live.
What is the UK's birth-rate and how's it changed over time?
2017- 1.71 (children per woman)
2018- 1.65 (children per woman)
2019- 1.59 (children per woman)
2020- 1.53 (children per woman)
2021- 1.55 (children per woman)
2022- 1.49 (children per woman)
Source: Office for National Statistics