Labour exposes shock 8yr surge
CHILDCARE costs have soared by up to 47% since 2010.
Twenty-five hours a week in nursery for children two and over in England now costs £120.66 – up from £82.
The same hours for under-twos have risen 42%, from £88 to £124.73.
The cost of a childminder for undertwos rose 33%, from £83 to £110.61, and by 32% for children two and above from £83 to £109.95. Yet weekly wages rose just 17% in the eight-year period, from £439 to £512.
Labour compiled the figures from annual reports by the Family and Childcare Trust.
Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner said: “The cost of childcare has skyrocketed under this Tory Government, showing they are failing to deliver affordable, sustainable childcare for families.”
Children aged three and four get 15 free hours under a Tory scheme. Parents of children that age working at least 16 hours a week can claim 30.
But kids aged two only get free care if parents get certain benefits. Labour vows free care for all two-year-olds.
The Department for Education said: “Our offer saves eligible working families £5,000 per child, per year. We are spending more on childcare than any government, £6billion a year by 2020.”