Nursery World - Cost of childcare 'punishing' for working parents

Over a third of mothers who go back to work only just break even or make a financial loss due to the cost of childcare, finds new research.

Pregnant Then Screwed wants the Government to provide properly subsidised childcare from the age of nine months

The survey of 6,147 mothers with children under the age of three, also finds that almost two-thirds of those that returned to employment either work fewer hours, have changed jobs, or stopped working because of childcare costs.

Campaign group Pregnant Then Screwed, which carried out the survey, looked at average figures on income and the daily cost of childcare and determined that the average person could spend more than half of their income on childcare.

It found that parents in the East of England are most impacted by the cost of childcare, with 40 per cent stating that earnings don’t cover costs or are completely used on childcare costs. Parents in Northern Ireland however fair the best, with 23 per stating that their earnings are not covering their childcare costs.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included