Parents in Wales feel the pinch as childcare costs rise 5%

More than one in four parents on low incomes have been unable to get or keep a job because they can’t afford to pay for childcare, a new poll for Save the Children has revealed.

Wednesday 16 July 2008

In a survey by YouGov, 28% of parents with an income of under £15,000 said they have been unable to get a job or continue with an existing job because the cost of childcare was too great. The figure for parents with an income of over £15,000 was just 9%.

The findings come on the same day that research by the Daycare Trust reveals the cost of childcare in Wales has risen by 5% in the last year and now costs an average of £87.86 per week.

“Many parents on low incomes simply can’t afford to go to work,” said Anne Crowley, poverty spokesperson for Save the Children in Wales. “The costs of childcare are so high that by going to work they lose more money than they make. Many parents have to leave their jobs to look after their children.

“The majority of parents in poverty want to work, but with no one to look after their children they can’t.”

Anne Crowley added: “We want the government to increase the take-home pay of parents, by raising the working tax credit or by increasing the minimum wage.”

The research highlights the huge financial burden on parents during the summer holidays, when their children are not being looked after at school. The Save the Children survey showed that 62% of people agreed that the summer holidays are one of the most expensive times of year for parents.

“Summer is an extremely expensive time for all parents, but particularly for parents in poverty,” Anne Crowley said. “They have to keep their children entertained with activities that cost money. Many are also missing out on the free meals they receive during term time.

“Save the Children wants the government to introduce seasonal grants for the poorest families. £100 per child in summer and winter would help parents cope with these expensive times of the year. This should be part of the £3 billion investment needed for the government to keep its promise of halving child poverty by 2010.”

Save the Children is a member of End Child Poverty, campaigning for the government to keep its promise of halving child poverty by 2010 and ending it by 2020.

In response to the Welsh Assembly Government’s new legislations on child poverty, Eleri Thomas, Save the Children’s Interim Programme Director in Wales said:

“Child poverty is an ongoing tragedy, so Save the Children is pleased to see that fighting is at the top of the assembly government's agenda. The government must now make sure that bold pledges are turned into meaningful action.

“Save the Children particularly welcomes the enforcement of a duty on public agencies to play their part in ending child poverty. The provision of free childcare places and other early years’ services in specific places will help every child to make a flying start. It will also allow parents to take jobs and progress within the workplace, which will help break the cycle of poverty in the longer term.

“New legislation is a great start but we need more. We need resources, a political will and a coordinated approach to make a difference to children’s lives.

“A lot needs to be done to reach the targets of halving child poverty by 2010 and eradicating it by 2020.To  help  keep the promise the government should introduce seasonal grants of £100 per child for the poorest families, and an extra £100 per family in winter to help with costs like fuel, food and warm clothing.”

Find out more

Bookmark this page with: