Data shows significant rise in childcare costs

The Department for Education’s Childcare and Early Years Survey reveals that the average weekly cost of childcare had risen to £54 at the time the data was collected between November 2012 and June 2013.

The DfE said the "significant increase" on the previous year’s average weekly spend of £47 reflected the "minority" of parents who spent a large amount on childcare.

The data also showed that 27 per cent of families struggled to meet their childcare costs, including 46 per cent of low-income families.

The research found that 39 per cent thought their local childcare provision was too expensive, while 32 per cent rated the affordability of childcare as being "good" and 29 per cent were unsure.

Liz Bayram, chief executive of the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (Pacey), said the findings of the survey provide further evidence of the financial challenge families face.

She said: “These insights show how crucial it is for government to ensure parents have access to a range of quality, flexible childcare options that best meet the need of their family.

“Recent extensions of the free entitlement to disadvantaged two-year-olds will help but Pacey would like to see government provide more funding so providers can support more parents to access the childcare they need and enable more children to benefit from high-quality childcare.”

4Children chief executive Anne Longfield said the data highlighted the need for the pupil premium to be extended into the early years – a call backed by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg at the launch of the charity’s manifesto earlier this month.

She said: “This survey shows that childcare is a crucial part of life for most families in modern Britain and is essential in helping parents to work and care for their children.

“Our own recent polling showed that around one-quarter of parents think having more affordable, accessible childcare would make the most real positive difference to their family life.

“4Children is calling on the government in the Budget this spring to extend the pupil premium to early years to increase investment in childcare.”