Nursery World - Parents paying 65 per cent of wages for under-twos nursery place in England

Childcare costs for a child under two are now more than two-thirds of one parent’s take-home pay in some parts of England, according to new analysis.

Parents are facing crippling childcare costs across the country, the analysis shows PHOTO Adobe Stock

In Scotland one person would pay just over half of their weekly earnings (51 per cent), while in Wales the figure is similar to England, 63 per cent and 65 per cent respectively.

The findings come from analysis by Business in the Community (BITC), The Prince’s Responsible Business Network, of figures from Coram Family and Childcare survey results alongside ONS income data.

According to the analysis parents in London and the east of England are paying the most – 71 per cent of their weekly salary.

And in Norwich, costs are almost three-quarters of the median weekly take-home pay of £408, with full-time nursery costing £304 a week or 74 per cent of one parent’s weekly take-home pay.

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