Why extreme heat is deepening the childcare gap for working mums

The heatwave sweeping across Europe is among the most severe on record. With soaring temperatures and oppressive humidity, living and working conditions have become increasingly difficult.

But, as with most crises, the impacts are not evenly felt. Those in tightly-packed housing or apartments are more likely to suffer higher indoor temperatures, while vulnerable people, the elderly and young children are at far greater risk of illness or death. Air conditioning is a luxury that not everyone can afford, and running electric fans 24/7 is an additional financial burden on households.

Alongside sticky, sleepless nights and unpleasant commutes are school and daycare closures. With schools, nurseries or childminders simply not equipped for extreme and dangerous heat, many have shut – leaving mums navigating work while looking after hot, irritable children.

According to a survey of more than 10,000 parents by Pregnant Then Screwed, among families whose children's school closed, nearly three-quarters (72%) said mums took on the childcare. Grandparents were the next most common carers (13%), while dads came third, stepping in for just 12% of families.

“We already knew that when kids are ill, when schools shut or when there's some kind of crisis, it almost always lands on mums to pick up the childcare pieces,” says Rachel Grocott, CEO of Pregnant Then Screwed.

(Pavel Danilyuk/Pexels)

“We're seeing exactly the same pattern, but this time driven by extreme heat. Parents were already dreading the annual summer holiday childcare juggle because our systems don't actually support mums and parents to balance work and care. Now we've got heatwave chaos on top, with mums in our community overwhelmingly picking up more childcare this week as our nurseries and schools melt in unprecedented temperatures.”

Protecting children and staff is vital, Grocott adds, but recognising the impact on parents is also important, especially as heatwaves become the norm.

The UK is warming at a rate of approximately 0.25°C per decade. Recent research by the Met Office showed that the UK could reach peak heatwave temperatures of up to 45C (113F) in the next 30 years.

“With no end in sight for increased temperatures, we need the government to recognise that it’s mums, once again who are impacted by the sudden need for childcare, and to think about how we protect mums careers in these new hot times,” says Grocott.

"School and nursery closures, reduced opening hours and disrupted childcare arrangements force many mums to take time off work at short notice"

One mum explains that she has three children in three different schools – one closed, one with a half day, and one open as usual, so she had to take a day of annual leave. Another says she was refused ‘emergency’ leave, despite her child’s school closing.

And all parents know activities never get more confusing, complicated, and expensive than when school is over in May or June.

The rising temperatures mean more than sweat and discomfort. According to a 2022 Pew Research Study, 78% of mothers already say they do the majority of work when it comes to childcare tasks, including managing their children’s schedules and activities. Over the summer holidays, this mental load intensifies as we navigate summer childcare issues. The result is often increased stress, exhaustion and burnout.

As heatwaves become more frequent and intense, the problem is only likely to grow. School and nursery closures, reduced opening hours and disrupted childcare arrangements force many mums to take time off work at short notice, often using annual leave or unpaid time to fill the gap.

These repeated disruptions can have lasting consequences. Time away from work can reduce earnings, affect performance perceptions and limit opportunities for progression. Over time, existing workplace inequalities, like the gender pay gap and the underrepresentation of women in senior leadership, risk becoming even more deeply entrenched as mothers continue to shoulder the majority of emergency childcare.