- Coram Family and Childcare’s 23rd annual survey reveals continued decrease in the availability of childcare in England, across all areas of provision
- A part-time nursery place for a child under two now costs an average of £158 per week in Great Britain, up 7% on 2023
- Ahead of the childcare expansion roll-out from April, councils raise concerns over delivery of the policy and availability of places
Just days away from the first phase of major expansion to childcare support, new research published by Coram today reveals a bleak picture for families, with dramatic drops in the availability of childcare places, and above-inflation rise in childcare costs.
Coram Family and Childcare’s 23rd annual Childcare Survey uncovers the extent of national childcare shortages, with only a third (34%) of English councils reporting sufficient childcare for parents working full-time, a decrease of 14 percentage points on 2023, and just over one in three (35%) reporting enough childcare for children under two, down by 14 percentage points on last year.
The findings show that it is the most disadvantaged children who are missing out, with just 6% of councils reporting sufficient childcare for children with disabilities, a decrease of 12 percentage points on 2023. There are also continued decreases in the availability of childcare across all other areas of provision measured in the survey, including for parents working atypical hours (down by 7 percentage points on 2023) and families in rural areas (down by 14 percentage points on 2023).
