UK parents locked out of work due to rising childcare fees – survey

Survey finds costs have gone up 3.5% for three- to four-year-olds over last year, adding to cost of living crisis

British parents are finding themselves locked out of work and struggling to make ends meet as rising childcare fees add to the cost of living crisis, according to a survey.

Childcare costs have gone up by 3.5% for three to four-year-olds over the last year, while parents are paying 2.5% more for under twos, the survey found. Meanwhile, childcare availability has declined, as the sector grapples with the continuing impact of the pandemic.