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Research from Family and Childcare Trust shows "soaring" cost of childcare

British parents are paying an average of £116 a week for childcare, according to new research from the Family and Childcare Trust.

The charity used data from local authorities across Britain for its 16th annual report, finding that families spend up to 45% of their disposable income on childcare. This is despite nursery prices remaining steady and childminder places increasingly only above inflation at 1.9%.

The research also revealed a lack of available places, with only half of the country’s regions reporting adequate childcare for parents working full-time. Those working outside of standard office hours struggled the most, with just one in eight regions having enough places for these parents. Just 18% of areas had enough childcare for families with disabled children.

Ellen Broome, deputy chief executive at the Family and Childcare Trust, said that the findings show that many parents are “effectively shut out” of the workplace. She said: “Childcare is as vital as the rails and roads for helping our country to run: it boosts children’s outcomes throughout life and helps parents work.”

The Family and Childcare Trust is now calling on the government to review funding for its free childcare entitlements and improve access for those with disabled children. It is also asking for better information for parents and to ensure that childcare costs do not outstrip wages.

Neil Leitch, chief executive of the ��������, said: “Many families are continuing to struggle to afford childcare, and without adequate funding from government, this problem will continue. This is all the more concerning in the light of the 30-hour offer which, despite being set to roll out in just six months, is looking less and less sustainable by the day.”