Parents criticise the government for not immediately helping with childcare costs.
Little Lane Play Village. Credit Narelle Gordon
Parents are criticising The Government for being “too slow” in providing more support for childcare services. This comes after Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement spoke about tax, benefits, and getting people into work, but did not indicate supporting childcare fees.
The Government currently runs a Tax-free childcare scheme where up to 20% of the fees are paid to nursing providers for families on a low income. They are planning to do better next year, but parents say it’s too late and want a change now.
Narelle Gordon, a mother of three, said the government should do more to support working families with children of nursery age, particularly during this cost of living crisis.
She said, “It is a bit difficult because I also have to cope with the rise in the cost of petrol, food, gas and electricity, council tax and all these different things and the amount I’m paying in childcare fees is extortionate. I have three children under the age of 3 and pay £500 for two of them, but when my third child goes to nursery, this will increase to around £1000.”
“I’m not sure what I can do now, The Government is too slow in helping parents like me. there are other parents I know who need immediate support, and will have to cut down on work just so they can look after their children themselves, making them lose more money.”
Statista shows that the average weekly cost of a full-time nursery place in Great Britain was £285.31 for children under two, £279.60 for two-year-olds, and £117.60 for those aged between three and four. Childminder costs were less expensive than nursery costs, with the average weekly cost of a part-time childminder as low as £49.79 for children over two.
Sophie George owns Little Nutkins Nursery, and her staff looks after 9 babies, 8-12 toddlers, and 16 preschoolers daily.
She said, “The Government gives us funding to support the under-twos, and we have pupil premium for older children too that parents can apply for on their website.”
At Little Nutkins Nursery, the daily rate varies depending on the age of the child. Babies are the most expensive, the rate for preschoolers (aged between three and four) is much cheaper. The prices also differ depending on the session, whether it’s a full day, a school day or just a morning or afternoon.
They offer breakfast, lunch with a pudding and afternoon tea with the full day charges. Morning session charges include breakfast, lunch and pudding, and
Afternoon session charges are inclusive of small afternoon tea.
They also have a holiday club for busy parents during the school holidays.
The Education Secretary Gillian Keegan recently posted on her Twitter that there will be “more childcare provision than ever before in history” following the demands from low-income parents for more support.
The Government currently helps by providing up to 30 hours of free childcare per week, across 38 weeks, for eligible working parents with children aged 3-4 years.
The Childcare Choices website says that in the new year, the following will be available:
From Apr 2024 - Up to 15 hours for eligible working families in England with a 2-year-old.
From Sept 2024 - Up to 15 hours for eligible working families in England with a child between 9 and 23 months old.
From Sept 2025 - Up to 30 hours for eligible working families in England with a child from 9 months old up to school age.
The Chief of the National Day Nurseries Association released a statement on the funding rates for 2024-25 being lower than staff wages, and raised her concern for the parents.
Statement from Purnima Tanuku OBE, Chief executive of National Day Nurseries Association
Martin Lewis, the founder of Money Saving Expert has also stepped in to support parents and shared a guide with some ways for struggling families to get the help they need.
The Government is trying to do more next year to meet the demands of parents in need. Visit The Government website to register for a childcare account, apply for support, and get more information.