MAHM submits evidence to Education Committee
In October 2025, Mothers At Home Matter (MAHM) submitted written evidence to the House of Commons Education Committee as part of the government’s Call for Evidence on Support for Childcare and the Early Years. Our submission responds to the Committee’s inquiry into how early years policy supports children and families and can be read in full on the UK Parliament website here.
“We urge the Committee to adopt a genuinely child-centred approach to early years policy — one that values parental care, supports family life, and ensures that families are not penalised for choosing to care for their children themselves.”
We raised concerns that current childcare policy is framed primarily as a labour market intervention, designed to increase parental workforce participation, rather than as a strategy centred on child wellbeing and early development. While expanded childcare entitlements are often presented as universally beneficial, the policy focus consistently prioritises economic output over the developmental needs of babies and young children. This framing marginalises home-based care and fails to recognise parents (most often mothers) as children’s first and most important caregivers.
Our submission highlights how existing funding, tax and benefit structures place families who provide their own care at a financial disadvantage, effectively narrowing choice and placing pressure on parents to return to work earlier than they or their children may be ready for. We urge the Committee to adopt a genuinely child-centred approach to early years policy — one that values parental care, supports family life, and ensures that families are not penalised for choosing to care for their children themselves. Our full submission is also available directly from MAHM here.
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