Parents ‘facing double squeeze of expensive childcare and patchy availability’

Sign up to our free money newsletter for investment analysis and expert advice to help you build wealth Sign up to our free money email for help building your wealth Sign up to our free money email for help building your wealth SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. This year more than ever parents are likely to struggle to find the childcare they need to be able to keep working and for their children to have fun and stay safe Megan Jarvie, Coram Family and Childcare Families may also struggle to find the childcare they need, with only a third of English local authorities reporting enough holiday childcare available for parents in their area who work full-time, according to the report. Without action to make sure there is affordable out-of-school childcare for every child who needs it, we are at risk of seeing parents - and mothers in particular - struggle to keep working Megan Jarvie, Family and Childcare “Rising costs and falling availability means that they are facing a double squeeze as they search for childcare they can afford that meets their needs. “Without action to make sure there is affordable out-of-school childcare for every child who needs it, we are at risk of seeing parents – and mothers in particular – struggle to keep working.” The Holiday Childcare Survey 2021 said that to fix problems in the system, governments should make sure there is enough year-round childcare for every working family that needs it, including school-age children. “The Government needs to wake up to the problems facing parents and start investing in the high quality childcare they need all year round.” – Here are the average weekly childcare prices, in 2021, according to the report: – Britain, £144.65 – England, £147.01 – Scotland, £118.05 – Wales, £134.18 English regions: – East of England, £142.49 – East Midlands, £155.96 – Inner London, £152.73 – Outer London, £146.54 – North East, £153.72 – North West, £129.09 – South East, £141.52 – South West, £160.30 – West Midlands, £152.54 – Yorkshire and the Humber, £143.60