Nursery World - Nursery costs rise 7 per cent rise

The typical cost of a nursery place for a child under two has increased by almost 7 per cent in the past year to 128 a week, or more than 6,650 a year, according to a report on work-life balance published this week by the Daycare Trust. Making Childcare Work calls for more help with the cost of childcare for working parents through the new tax credits and more flexibility from both employers and childcare providers. It says that the forthcoming Budget should increase the level of childcare costs covered by tax credits to reflect real costs.

Making Childcare Work calls for more help with the cost of childcare for working parents through the new tax credits and more flexibility from both employers and childcare providers. It says that the forthcoming Budget should increase the level of childcare costs covered by tax credits to reflect real costs.

The report observes that lone parents in particular identify the lack of affordable childcare as a major barrier to getting into and staying in work, and argues that much greater investment in childcare will be needed to meet the Government target of having 70 per cent of lone parents in employment by 2010.

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