Childcare costs rise to record levels

FAMILY FRIENDLY BENEFITS

Childcare costs rise to record levels

Childcare costs have outstripped inflation for the third year running, according to a survey by the Daycare Trust.

• The average cost of a nursery place for a child under two is £134 a week -- a rise of nearly 5%.
• This compares to an average household income of £562 a week and average weekly expenditure on housing and food combined of £82.
• Parents in some parts of the country, particularly London and south-east England, pay much more. The highest nursery cost identified in the survey was £338 a week, over £17,500 a year.

Stephen Burke, Director of Daycare Trust, said: "Parents in Britain already pay the highest childcare bills in Europe. They tell us they cannot afford to pay any more."

Want to know more?

Title: 2004 Childcare Costs Survey, Daycare Trust.

Availability: For further information, contact the Daycare Trust on tel: 020 7840 3350 or email info@daycaretrust.org.uk

Daycare Trust is the national childcare charity working to promote "high quality affordable childcare for all". It provides information for parents, childcare providers, employers, trade unions, local authorities and policy makers. To find out more visit www.daycaretrust.org.uk

Posted 8 March 2004