Here is a selection of comments from our facebook page. You can read all of them here.
I am not sure whose (fee) has risen by 6 per cent, but I am having to look at reducing mine, by 50p per hour, and asking for parents to provide lunches as even for 15 hours care a week, the expression on the parents' face shows that they want it cheaper. We are getting so few enquiries that to earn £8 less a week is better than not getting the business.
I haven't put my prices up in three years, however I closed my childminding business at Christmas after seven years due to parents' inability to pay their fees now. Rising costs of fuel and food are leaving parents robbing Peter to pay Paul on a monthly basis.
I'm a childminder in Wales and I haven't put my fees up for three years because I know how hard it is for parents at the moment, but because of all the raises in fuel prices I have been thinking of putting them up in April or leaving them alone and asking parents to provide sandwiches. Everybody is hurting at the moment.
I haven't put my fees up in three years and now work longer hours for less money - quite often paid late, and because I offer funded places the parents don't think they need to pay outside the funded hours. I also find parents picking up later and dropping off earlier - everyone is being squeezed.
I am a nursery nurse and we have had so many children leave due to inability to pay fees. Our Sure Start nursery is currently running at cost. We are under pressure to fill vacancies, but with more and more being made redundant and local authorities being squeezed, it's even harder for everyone, plus the changes to tax credits haven't helped.
My prices have risen over the last year but only to new contracts. My maximum rate per hour is £4 but this includes all meals and snacks as well as a cooked meal for those with me after 6pm. Costs have not just risen for parents, they have risen for everyone including childcarers.
It needs to be recognised that cuts in tax credits and the possible cuts in child benefit are likely to hit people a lot harder than a rise in the cost of childcare. Most childminders have their own children and I no longer get tax credits and if our child benefit goes I will need to raise prices again as I can't afford to work for less.
Sixteen years ago when I started childminding I charged £2.25 per hour, I now charge £3.50 per hour or £30 for a full day. Not much of a raise ...
