Labour leader warns that parents face a ‘childcare crunch’

The Labour leader will cite various figures, which show that since the last election the cost of nursery places has risen, there are fewer Sure Start centres and a shortfall of childcare places.

Mr Miliband is also expected to say that the Government’s offer of childcare for disadvantaged two-year-olds is failing with one in three councils not having enough places.

‘Millions of parents are facing a childcare crunch. The cost of a nursery place is now the highest in history, at more than £100 a week  (Family and Childcare Trust childcare costs survey) to cover part-time hours.

‘Average costs for a full time place are now rising up to £200 or even more. That means a typical parent doing a part-time job would have to work from Monday until Thursday just to cover these costs of childcare.

‘Rising prices have been matched only by falling numbers of places. David Cameron denounced Labour before the last election for warning that the Tories might put Sure Start at risk.

 ‘But an average of three Sure Start centres is being lost every single week (Department for Education figures on Sure Start centres April-June 2010), contributing to a total of 35,000 fewer childcare places under David Cameron. And all at a time when the number of children under four in England has risen by 125,000.’

Mr Miliband will conclude by reiterating how Labour will support families if the party is elected in 2015. The party’s plans include extending free childcare for three- and four-year-olds from 15 to 25 hours a week for working parents, and introducing a legal guarantee of access to wraparound care from 8am-6pm at primary schools.