Parents turn down work to cope with cost of childcare

The poll of more than 1,000 parents, the majority of whom were mothers, found that 38 per cent had considered leaving their job because of childcare costs and 12 per cent had actually left work.

One in five said they had been forced to turn down a job due to childcare costs and 14 per cent said they have had to borrow money from friends, family or use credit cards to cover costs.

Nearly four in ten of the respondents said that they pay more on childcare than they do on their rent or mortgage and 17 per cent reported having difficulties in paying their fees on time.

Justine Roberts, chief executive and co-founder of Mumsnet, said: "As a nation we spend more on childcare than most others in Western Europe, yet lots of parents are unable to work because childcare costs make it uneconomic.”

Nearly half of the respondents said that employers should contribute more to the cost of childcare, while 77 per cent said the government fails to offer enough support to parents.

More than six in ten of the parents said they would be happy to receive fewer benefits if childcare was made free or more affordable.

But only five per cent said they were in favour of a reduction in the number of childcare staff in settings, even if it meant that costs were reduced for parents.

Anand Shukla, chief executive of the Daycare Trust, said: “This survey clearly sets out just how big a barrier childcare costs are for parents looking to stay in or enter the labour market.

“Affordable, high quality childcare is good for child development, enables families to be financially self-sufficient, and ensures businesses have access to the widest possible pool of talent.

“The government’s childcare commission should pay heed when considering how to ease the burden of childcare costs for parents.”