Making childcare work for you

CHILDCARE costs have rocketed in recent years, pricing many parents out of the market. Some families have to rely on friends and relatives to look after the kids to enable them to go out to work.

Other mums have given up their careers because soaring childcare bills have made going back to work financially unviable.

While those who do go back to work as soon as maternity leave ends face hefty nursery bills or nanny fees at the end of each month.

A survey by The Daycare Trust charity found that a typical full-time nursery place for a child under two is £152 a week – a rise of six per cent on last year.

Kate Goddard, the charity's policy and research officer, said that as there is no government regulation of childcare costs, prices can vary widely especially in regions such as the north west with nurseries and childminders in more affluent areas charging more for their services.