WHY CHILDCARE IN WALES IS MOST EXPENSIVE IN UK

PARENTS in Wales say they are being stopped from working full-time or getting promotions because of the soaring cost of childcare in Wales.

- ABBIE WIGHTWICK Education Editor [e-mail]

While the cost of childcare for under-threes in England has more than halved, prices have risen in Wales and are now the highest in the UK, according to separate surveys.

In its 24th annual childcare survey, Children’s charity Coram found that in England a part-time nursery place for a child under two costs an average of £70.51 per week, which is down by 56% on 2024. In contrast, prices in Wales have risen 10% while in Scotland they are up 7%.

A part-time nursery place for a child under two now costs an average of £155.04 per week in Wales, a 10% increase on 2024, Coram found. Childcare costs for children aged three to four have increased by almost 5% on 2024 across the UK.

A separate survey by Oxfam Cymru found that childcare fees for under-twos are now more than double the average in England.

Caroline and Matt Stuart, from Lisvane, Cardiff, have two boys aged 18 months and four. They both work full-time and pay £780 a month for three days’ childcare with a childminder while Caroline's father takes the boys on the other two days.

They are eligible for and get Wales’ 30-hour free childcare for their oldest but as full-time work is 37.5 hours, that is all used up by lunchtime on a Friday, said Caroline.

Matt is in sales and often travels for work, while Caroline is a kitchen designer for a large company and can only occasionally work from home. She says they cannot afford full-time childcare and are lucky her father can help, pointing out this is not an option every parent has.

The mother of two, who returned to work after 10 months with their first child and after 12 with their second, said the soaring cost of childcare meant they could not have afforded her returning to work without her widowed father looking after their sons for two days a week. As it is, she is barely breaking even.