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| Charity says childcare costs soar | Charity says childcare costs soar |
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| Childcare costs are rising above the rate of inflation, with parents paying more than £8,000 a year, a charity report suggests. | Childcare costs are rising above the rate of inflation, with parents paying more than £8,000 a year, a charity report suggests. |
| The Daycare Trust says costs nationally rose 5% last year. Inflation is 2.1%. | The Daycare Trust says costs nationally rose 5% last year. Inflation is 2.1%. |
| The average cost of a full-time nursery place for a child under the age of two in England was £159 per week. | The average cost of a full-time nursery place for a child under the age of two in England was £159 per week. |
| The most expensive care was in London and the South East, where typical costs ranged between £161 and £202 a week, and some parents were paying £750. | The most expensive care was in London and the South East, where typical costs ranged between £161 and £202 a week, and some parents were paying £750. |
| The cheapest childcare was in the West Midlands, the Daycare Trust said. | The cheapest childcare was in the West Midlands, the Daycare Trust said. |
| Breakdown of average costs by region | Breakdown of average costs by region |
| It also said that the cost of childcare in out-of-school clubs had risen by six times more than the rate of inflation to an average of £43 a week. | It also said that the cost of childcare in out-of-school clubs had risen by six times more than the rate of inflation to an average of £43 a week. |
| Its survey showed the basic fees charged by childcare providers, and did not include the help available from the government through tax credits, childcare vouchers and free nursery places when a child is three. | Its survey showed the basic fees charged by childcare providers, and did not include the help available from the government through tax credits, childcare vouchers and free nursery places when a child is three. |
| The trust said that Britons paid more for childcare than elsewhere in Europe, and many did not claim tax credits and vouchers, which can lower costs. | The trust said that Britons paid more for childcare than elsewhere in Europe, and many did not claim tax credits and vouchers, which can lower costs. |
| Daycare Trust joint chief executive Alison Garnham said: "Claiming tax credits - which can cover up to 80% of childcare costs - and vouchers from your employer can cut the cost of childcare considerably. | Daycare Trust joint chief executive Alison Garnham said: "Claiming tax credits - which can cover up to 80% of childcare costs - and vouchers from your employer can cut the cost of childcare considerably. |
| "But even so, parents in the UK are still paying a bigger share - around 70% on average - of this spiralling cost than their neighbours in Europe, where the average is nearer 30%." | "But even so, parents in the UK are still paying a bigger share - around 70% on average - of this spiralling cost than their neighbours in Europe, where the average is nearer 30%." |
| She called on the government to invest more in childcare. | She called on the government to invest more in childcare. |
| Average costs in Wales had increased more quickly over the past 12 months than those in England and Scotland, the trust said, rising 8%. | Average costs in Wales had increased more quickly over the past 12 months than those in England and Scotland, the trust said, rising 8%. |
| And Scottish fees fell slightly, with a typical nursery place costing £141 a week this year. | And Scottish fees fell slightly, with a typical nursery place costing £141 a week this year. |
AVERAGE WEEKLY CHILDCARE COSTS IN BRITAINRegion Nursery under 2 Nursery over 2 Childminder under 2 Childminder over 2 Out of school club England £159 £149 £144 £142 £43 Wales £142 £141 £153 £151 £36 Scotland £141 £128 £139 £141 £38 Inner London £198 £174 £177 £175 £27 Outer London £202 £186 £184 £170 £47 South East £179 £165 £162 £161 £44 South West £162 £154 £150 £151 £40 East of England £168 £156 £145 £143 £57 West Mids £133 £129 £117 £116 £39 East Mids £142 £133 £119 £123 £61 Yorks & Humber £135 £131 £132 £130 £43 North West £139 £131 £118 £118 £41 North East £135 £133 £134 £138 £34 Source: Daycare Trust | AVERAGE WEEKLY CHILDCARE COSTS IN BRITAINRegion Nursery under 2 Nursery over 2 Childminder under 2 Childminder over 2 Out of school club England £159 £149 £144 £142 £43 Wales £142 £141 £153 £151 £36 Scotland £141 £128 £139 £141 £38 Inner London £198 £174 £177 £175 £27 Outer London £202 £186 £184 £170 £47 South East £179 £165 £162 £161 £44 South West £162 £154 £150 £151 £40 East of England £168 £156 £145 £143 £57 West Mids £133 £129 £117 £116 £39 East Mids £142 £133 £119 £123 £61 Yorks & Humber £135 £131 £132 £130 £43 North West £139 £131 £118 £118 £41 North East £135 £133 £134 £138 £34 Source: Daycare Trust |
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