Nursery fees up by five per cent

 

Parents that work have to stump up a whopping £8,684 for an annual nursery place for children aged two and under.

 

Costs have increased by five per cent in the last 12 months according to new figures published by the Daycare Trust.

 

A typical full-time nursery place for a child under two is now £167 per week.

 

The figures are compiled from a survey of local authorities with responses from 136 out of 200 Family Information Services (FIS) in England, Scotland and Wales.

 

Daycare Trust joint chief executive Emma Knights said: “Yet again the cost of nursery places has increased above inflation, making pre-school education a big drain on family budgets at a time of financial uncertainty.

 

“It is crucial that parents claim all the help they are entitled to, and that the Government increase the free childcare entitlement to include all two years olds. The current review of tax credits should increase the maximum proportion of childcare costs the poorest parents can claim from 80% to 100%.

 

“Also many parents are still reporting a lack of suitable childcare in their neighbourhood, particularly for disabled children and children in secondary school, which is especially worrying in light of recent changes to lone parent benefits.

 

“We hope the Government will take account of the policy recommendations in this report publish their refreshed childcare strategy so that all parents have access to high quality, affordable childcare.”

 

The Daycare Trust is the national childcare charity, which campaigns for quality, affordable childcare for everyone.

 

www.daycaretrust.org.uk