The latest Childcare and Early Years Survey of parents for the reporting year 2023, reveals since nearly the last decade a record number of parents are finding it hard to pay for their childcare
Just over a third (34 per cent) of parents with children up to the age of four only said they are finding it ‘difficult’ or ‘very difficult’ to meet their childcare costs, compared to 24 per cent in 2021 and 32 per cent in 2022. The DfE says the percentage of parents struggling to pay is the highest its been since 2014.
On average, these families were paying £100 a week for childcare, compared to £24.00 a week for families with five to 14-year-olds, finds the survey.
It also reveals 35 per cent of parents felt there were not enough childcare places and around a fifth (21 per cent) reported problems finding childcare flexible enough to meet their needs.
The Early Years Alliance said the findings demonstrate that ‘urgent action needs to be taken.’
Chief executive Neil Leitch added, ‘We know that providers are doing their best not just to meet demand but to ensure that places are also affordable and high-quality, but sustained underfunding and longstanding staffing challenges are making this close to impossible for countless settings.’
The survey also highlights the factors parents consider important in high-quality childcare and early years settings. According to the findings, most important for parents is settings using activities to encourage children to socialise, followed by practitioners having a small number of children to care for and receiving regular feedback on their child’s progress. The findings are similar to those of the previous year, 2022.
