Nursery World - City families can't afford childcare

Local authorities should be given greater Government funding to pay for quality childcare, according to an inner London council. A survey by the London borough of Camden concluded that the majority of middle- and low-income families in the borough cannot afford the 250 per week average cost of a full-time nursery place.

A survey by the London borough of Camden concluded that the majority of middle- and low-income families in the borough cannot afford the 250 per week average cost of a full-time nursery place.

Out of the 60 families who responded to the survey, 83 per cent said that they did not get help under the childcare element of the Working Tax Credit (WTC). The main reason for this was unemployment, followed closely by salary level.

A report of the findings was published by the Council last week. It said that the childcare element of the WTC is 'not set at a level that meets the majority of costs of childcare in Camden'. As a result, parents are not claiming the WTC and they are not accessing childcare places.

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