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<p>DWP have made no assessment of the provision of free childcare on productivity
itself. However, several reports, including the DWP working paper A Survey of Childcare
and Work Decisions among Families with Children, identify childcare costs as one of
the main barriers to returning to work after the birth of a child. ONS data show women
with young children have lower employment rates than men, and the Resolution Foundation
reports that mothers who are employed are more likely to have part time and low-paid
jobs due to childcare responsibilities. Provision of free childcare should support
mothers to combine high-skilled and full time work with raising children.</p><p>Also,
evidence from the IFS report The Economic Effects of Pre-school Education and Quality
suggests that children who have attended pre-school earn more over their working lives
on average than children who have had little or no pre-schooling.</p>
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