£122 a week to put a toddler in nursery

EXPENSE Childcare costs are up FAMILY Petra, left, with Bernie & sister Tamara THE price of sending a young child to nursery part-time has soared to £122 a week, a report warns.

It also shows that the cost varies hugely across the country.

And only half of local authorities in England and Wales have enough childcare available OUTRAGE Tamara’s fury on Twitter after Stunt’s interview for parents working full time, said the Family and Childcare Trust’s 18th annual childcare survey.

Sending a child under two to nursery for 25 hours a week costs £122 – up 7% on last year. For overtwos, it is £119 a week, up 6%.

Working parents in England are entitled to 30 free hours of care a week for three and four-year-olds. Tax credits are also available.

But Angela Rayner, Shadow Education Secretary, said: “The majority of local authorities have said they do not have enough places to deliver the 30- hour entitlement. The Government’s failure will keep many mothers locked out of the labour market, as rising childcare costs mean it doesn’t pay to work.”

The Family and Childcare Trust, said the “hotchpotch of schemes” should be streamlined.