Call to publish nursery fee details

The nursery sector body said the plans, which would see fee details of individual nurseries published online, would offer parents a useful guide to local nursery costs. "It is important that parents have as much information as possible about how much nursery places cost and we would welcome such a move in the UK," said a spokesman.

The move in Australia was proposed last week by deputy prime minister Julia Gillard after a number of childcare operators raised their fees by a third. But nurseries in the country have given it a cautious welcome, backing the availability of information but expressing concern it could be used to unfairly name and shame expensive nurseries.

The Daycare Trust's spokesman said: "There is a tendency when publishing this information for people to home in on the most expensive providers."

According to the trust, the annual cost of a typical nursery place for an under-two is now £8,268 in England, £7,384 in Wales and £7,332 in Scotland.