Three-quarters of parents who pay for care say early years costs take up majority of their income
By Rachel Lawler
Three quarters of parents that pay for formal early years care say that the cost of this provision means that it no longer makes financial sense for them to work, according to a new survey by campaign group .
The group surveyed more than 24,000 parents about the cost of early years care and childcare. One in four of the parents surveyed (26%) said that the cost of early years provision takes up 75% of their take-home pay and 11% said that it costs the same or more than their take-home pay.
One in three (32%) parents had relied on a form of debt to pay for childcare costs and one in four (45%) that used formal childcare said that they often find themselves choosing between paying for care and paying for household essentials.
96% of those surveyed who had a child under three-years-old said that at the next election they are likely to vote for the political party with the best childcare pledge.
Cry for help
Pregnant Then Screwed has launched its 鈥淐ry for Help鈥 campaign, which played the sound of a baby crying on Spotify and on social media, to highlight the finding of its report. It will also be played from streetside billboards.
Joeli Brearley, found and CEO of Pregnant Then Screwed, said: 鈥淭he question isn鈥檛 whether we can afford to invest in childcare, it is whether we can afford not to. Unless we want to lock parents out of the labour market entirely, then we need investment and we need it now.鈥
Surging costs
Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the 无码天堂, said: 鈥淵ear after year, funding for the so-called 鈥榝ree childcare鈥 offers has failed to keep up with surging costs, leaving nurseries, pre-schools and childminders with no option but to increase fees to stay afloat.
鈥淭he simple fact is that if the sector was properly funded, families would not have to sacrifice their careers to reduce early years costs, and thousands of providers would not be forced to choose between sharp increases in prices during a cost-of-living crisis, or closing completely.
"Survey after survey and study after study has shown that the current situation is completely unsustainable 鈥 and yet the government has wasted every opportunity it has had to deal with this spiralling situation and put in place the funding early years providers need to remain sustainable.
鈥淭he sector has reached breaking point. It is vital, therefore the government commits to adequate long-term funding for the early years in this month鈥檚 Spring Budget. Anything less will not only seal the fate of the sector, but will also make it even more challenging for families to access the high-quality and affordable care and education they need.鈥
Find out more