Nearly all childcare providers are set to hike prices as they try to cover costs and stay in business . There are fears it could lead to even more mothers leaving work and some say the government should be providing more help.
The soaring cost of childcare in the UK is revealed in new figures today, suggesting nurseries will raise fees by £1,000 this year.
Most nurseries and childminders surveyed - 87% - said the money they get from the government does not cover their costs to provide the"free" hours - leaving them out of pocket. Becky said:"When we looked into the fees it was £70 a day - it would have been all of my wage. With Harriet it was about £54, so that's a huge difference.
"You don't know what it's going to be like when you return to work, you're starting from the bottom." 30 free hours for 3 and 4-year-olds with working parents for 38 weeks a year in England and Scotland [48 weeks in Wales]'I've put my savings in to cover wages' As to what the government should do, she said:"They have to put money in. It's difficult to say, but I have to be realistic that if I can't make ends meet I will have to close and that's it."
"And it's coming at this critical moment where parents are making decisions about whether or not to go back to work after they've been on parental leave. Universal Credit claimants are also eligible to have up to 85% of their childcare costs funded but are put off by having to make upfront payments.
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