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| Childcare fees 'continue to rise' | Childcare fees 'continue to rise' |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| Many parents in Britain are paying in excess of £8,000 a year for a full-time nursery place, a survey suggests. | |
| The Daycare Trust found the yearly cost of a typical nursery place for a child under two was £8,684 in England, £8,216 in Scotland and £7,592 in Wales. | The Daycare Trust found the yearly cost of a typical nursery place for a child under two was £8,684 in England, £8,216 in Scotland and £7,592 in Wales. |
| The trust said for England this was a 5% increase on the previous 12 months, compared to an inflation rate of 3.1%. | The trust said for England this was a 5% increase on the previous 12 months, compared to an inflation rate of 3.1%. |
| Ministers said the survey findings were misleading and did not take into account the available financial help. | Ministers said the survey findings were misleading and did not take into account the available financial help. |
| It comes as the government has published a review of childcare in England, in an attempt to make the system more flexible and affordable and to ensure standards remained high. | It comes as the government has published a review of childcare in England, in an attempt to make the system more flexible and affordable and to ensure standards remained high. |
| Tax credits | Tax credits |
| The Daycare Trust figures are based on a survey of 136 Family Information Services (FIS) in England, Scotland and Wales, based on 50 hours a week in a nursery over 52-weeks. | The Daycare Trust figures are based on a survey of 136 Family Information Services (FIS) in England, Scotland and Wales, based on 50 hours a week in a nursery over 52-weeks. |
| The findings indicate the highest childcare costs were in London and the South East, where typical costs ranged from £173 to £226 a week. | The findings indicate the highest childcare costs were in London and the South East, where typical costs ranged from £173 to £226 a week. |
| In the most expensive case, parents were paying £400 a week, the equivalent of £20,800 a year. | In the most expensive case, parents were paying £400 a week, the equivalent of £20,800 a year. |
| Yet again the cost of nursery places has increased above inflation Emma Knights, Daycare Trust | Yet again the cost of nursery places has increased above inflation Emma Knights, Daycare Trust |
| In total, 69% of FISs said parents had reported a lack of childcare in their area over the past year and 59% of FISs reported insufficient childcare in their area for over 12s. | In total, 69% of FISs said parents had reported a lack of childcare in their area over the past year and 59% of FISs reported insufficient childcare in their area for over 12s. |
| Also, 56% reported insufficient childcare for disabled children and children with special education needs. | Also, 56% reported insufficient childcare for disabled children and children with special education needs. |
| The government disputed the validity of the findings. | The government disputed the validity of the findings. |
| In a letter to the Daycare Trust, Children's Minister Beverley Hughes said the survey was based on parents requiring 50 hours of childcare all year round for under-fives, which was "more than most parents take up or want". | In a letter to the Daycare Trust, Children's Minister Beverley Hughes said the survey was based on parents requiring 50 hours of childcare all year round for under-fives, which was "more than most parents take up or want". |
| She said the survey did not acknowledge the tax credit system for working parents or childcare vouchers offered through employers. | She said the survey did not acknowledge the tax credit system for working parents or childcare vouchers offered through employers. |
| The early years grants, available for children in the term after their third birthday, was also ignored, she said. | The early years grants, available for children in the term after their third birthday, was also ignored, she said. |
| 'Big drain' | 'Big drain' |
| Daycare Trust joint chief executive Emma Knights said: "Yet again the cost of nursery places has increased above inflation, making pre-school education a big drain on family budgets at a time of financial uncertainty. | Daycare Trust joint chief executive Emma Knights said: "Yet again the cost of nursery places has increased above inflation, making pre-school education a big drain on family budgets at a time of financial uncertainty. |
| At three, children receive 2.5 hours of free daily childcare (term-time only) | At three, children receive 2.5 hours of free daily childcare (term-time only) |
| "It is crucial that parents claim all the help they are entitled to, and that the government increase the free childcare entitlement to include all two-years-olds. | "It is crucial that parents claim all the help they are entitled to, and that the government increase the free childcare entitlement to include all two-years-olds. |
| "The current review of tax credits should increase the maximum proportion of childcare costs the poorest parents can claim from 80% to 100%." | "The current review of tax credits should increase the maximum proportion of childcare costs the poorest parents can claim from 80% to 100%." |
| Shadow families minister Maria Miller said: "The government must do more to make sure more families who are eligible for childcare support through the tax credit system actually receive it. | Shadow families minister Maria Miller said: "The government must do more to make sure more families who are eligible for childcare support through the tax credit system actually receive it. |
| "At the moment, the system is overly complicated and that means only one in four families who are eligible are actually claiming the credit." | "At the moment, the system is overly complicated and that means only one in four families who are eligible are actually claiming the credit." |
| A-levels | A-levels |
| The government's "Next steps for early learning and childcare" strategy for England includes plans to make it a legal requirement from 2015 for all childcare professionals to be qualified to A-level or an equivalent standard. | The government's "Next steps for early learning and childcare" strategy for England includes plans to make it a legal requirement from 2015 for all childcare professionals to be qualified to A-level or an equivalent standard. |
| Ministers have also committed to piloting a "Teach First"-style programme to attract the best graduates into the sector. | Ministers have also committed to piloting a "Teach First"-style programme to attract the best graduates into the sector. |
| The Teach First scheme recruits top graduates to teach for at least two years in challenging schools. | The Teach First scheme recruits top graduates to teach for at least two years in challenging schools. |
| The strategy will offer free early learning and childcare places for 15% of the most disadvantaged two-year-olds in England. | The strategy will offer free early learning and childcare places for 15% of the most disadvantaged two-year-olds in England. |
| It also outlines plans for a childcare comparison website, which will give information on staff ratios and qualifications, as well as prices. | It also outlines plans for a childcare comparison website, which will give information on staff ratios and qualifications, as well as prices. |
| And more after-school club providers will be encouraged to join the Ofsted childcare register, so that parents can access financial help via tax credits. | And more after-school club providers will be encouraged to join the Ofsted childcare register, so that parents can access financial help via tax credits. |
| Ms Hughes said: "The quality and confidence of the workforce is of the utmost importance for early years providers. | Ms Hughes said: "The quality and confidence of the workforce is of the utmost importance for early years providers. |
| "Early learning and childcare professionals need to have the same level of professionalism as teachers." | "Early learning and childcare professionals need to have the same level of professionalism as teachers." |