Nursery World - ‘Immediate’ Government action needed on rising childcare costs and drop in availability of places

The Chancellor is being urged to use tomorrow's Budget to help with rising childcare costs as parents are paying up to 3.5 per cent more for a place than they were a year ago, finds survey.

The Coram Childcare Survey reveals a 'sharp' drop in the availability of places since last year, PHOTO Adobe Stock

According to Coram Family and Childcare’s 21^st annual Childcare Survey, published today (Tuesday), for a part-time nursery place (25 hours) parents are paying 2.5 per cent more for childcare for under-twos, 2 per cent more for two-year-olds, and 3.5 per cent for three and four-year-olds compared to last year.

The cost of childcare for children under the age of two is greatest in inner London where parents pay an average of £183.56 per week for 25 hours, while those in Yorkshire and Humberside pay around £122.17.

The survey finds that for parents eligible for the 30 hours of funded childcare and wanting a full-time place (50 hours a week), they are having to pay, an average of £105.76 a week for the additional 20 hours in England and £98.58 in Wales.

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