Understand
Huddersfield mother highlights struggle to find specialist childcare for disabled daughter
Overview
A mother from Huddersfield, Stacey, has spoken about the ongoing struggle to find suitable specialist childcare for her seven-year-old daughter, Bailey, who has Cohen syndrome. Stacey is unable to return to work as a casino manager because Bailey only attends school part-time and local providers lack the necessary training. Charities such as Family Fund and Childminding UK highlight that this is a nationwide issue, driven by a shortage of qualified childminders and a general decline in registered childminders across England. Meanwhile, the Department for Education points to a £200m national training package intended to support children with special educational needs and disabilities.
Key points
- Stacey, a mother from Huddersfield, cannot return to work because she cannot find specialised childcare for her seven-year-old daughter, Bailey, who has Cohen syndrome.
- Bailey only attends school part-time due to her rare genetic condition, which causes neurodevelopmental delay and visual impairment.
- A poll by the charity Family Fund found that nearly one third of parents with disabled children could not find suitable care, and 51% wanted to work more hours but were restricted by a lack of appropriate provision.
- Childminding UK CEO Tina Maltman noted a general shortage of childminders and a deficit in SEND-qualified professionals, with Ofsted figures showing registered childminders in England dropped from 48,000 in 2015 to 24,700 in March 2026.
- The Department for Education stated it is investing £200m over the next three years in a national training package to support children with special educational needs and disabilities across ages 0-25.