UK Parents Struggling With Childcare Costs: According to new research released by the charity 4Children, UK parents are struggling with the costs of childcare. One in five parents with childcare costs has suggested that they will be cutting back on their working hours in 2015, or will consider quitting work altogether.  

UK Parents Struggling With Childcare Costs

More than half (51%) of those who answered the survey, which asked 1000 parents who paid for childcare a range of questions, said that they felt politicians should do more to support parents who have children by helping with childcare costs.

The survey also found that more than one in four (28%) of parents would be cutting back spending on treats in order to help pay childcare bills, whilst around one in six (16%) will need to cut back on essentials over the coming twelve months.

This research mirrors findings released by Aviva and published by VoicED which suggest that a tenth of families in the UK are now utilising one earner’s wages in order to pay for childcare and the cost of commuting to work.

A spokesman for the Department of Education stated that, after having risen for more than a decade, childcare costs in England were beginning to stabilise. All three and four years olds now receive 15 hours of free childcare per week, and this is also available to around 40% of two years olds  from disadvantaged backgrounds, according to a DfE spokesman.

Seven local authorities have also been given £1 million of government funding to trial an early years pupil premium. They will report back to the DfE on the effectiveness of the premium before it is introduced across the entirety on England. This is expected to take place in April 2015, costing £50 million.