CYP Now - Disadvantaged parents spending a third of income on childcare

Disadvantaged parents are spending a third of their income on childcare costs as a result of government failure to properly fund the sector, providers have said.

Disabled parents and those from ethnic minority backgrounds are more likely to be in lower paid jobs, research has warned. Picture: Adobe Stock

More than one in three parents with a disability are spending a third of their income on childcare costs, a survey has revealed, while black and ethnic minority parents are also spending significantly more of their income on childcare costs compared with all families.

Early Years Alliance chief executive Neil Leitch said that the government’s decision to “knowingly underfund the sector year upon year” has left providers “with no choice but to increase fees and charges, or risk going out of business completely” leading to such financial strain on parents in lower paid jobs.

Among disabled working parents 35 per cent say they are spending at least a third of their income to pay for childcare. Around one in seven spend over half their salary on nursery and childminding fees.

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