Labour reveals childcare cost rises in local areas
Anna Pujol-Mazzini
Thursday, February 19, 2015
The Labour party has released research into the cost of childcare in local areas showing huge variations across the country.
Analysis of responses to FOI requests put to England’s local authorities show that childcare costs have risen by more than 33 per cent for almost one-third of the respondents since 2010.
The London borough of Islington saw the largest rise, with childcare costs for a child under two for 25 hours almost trebling in five years from £83 to £235.
Alison McGovern MP, Labour’s shadow minister for childcare and children, said, ‘Since 2010 the failing Tory plan has seen the costs of childcare soar. On top of this, there are over 40,000 fewer childcare places and wages are down £1,600 a year on average.’
The political party also published its analysis of a report released earlier today (19 February) by the Family and Childcare Trust.
The report shows that the cost of a part-time nursery place for a child under two has increased by one third since the 2010 general election.
Labour revealed regional differences in the figures, with areas such as the North-East and the North-West seeing an increase of 53 per cent in childcare costs for children aged two to five.
To fight the rise in the costs of childcare, which can take up to 65 per cent of a weekly wage for part-time care according to the research, Labour plans on extending free childcare for working parents.
The funded hours would be increased from 15 to 25 for parents of three- and four-year-olds.
The party also wants to guarantee access to childcare for parents with primary age children though their local school and to extend childcare places by 50,000.
