Costly but childcare in Shropshire is cheapest in the Midlands
Shropshire parents who regularly feel the sting of childcare costs on their pay packets can console themselves with the news that things could be worse.
That’s because the county is actually among the cheapest areas in the West Midlands for the service.
On average, childcare in both Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin costs £4 per hour, according to newly-released data from the Department for Education.
All three and four-year-olds receive 15 hours of free childcare each week, while those whose parents both earn the equivalent of 16 hours’ work at the minimum wage receive 30 hours.
There are also 15 hours available for two-year-olds whose parents receive welfare benefits.
Gingerbread, a charity which supports single parents, called on the Government to increase its 30-hour offer to those in education, training and on zero hour contracts.
Dalia Ben-Galim, the charity’s director of policy, said: “Thousands of single parents are currently locked out of work due to unaffordable childcare.
“Gingerbread’s research shows that some single parents spend roughly half their take-home pay on a nursery place and they consistently tell us that it doesn’t always pay to work.”
Criteria
Ms Ben-Galim said that some single parents were choosing not to work as it was “too risky or doesn’t add up”.
“Gingerbread is calling for the Government to change the eligibility criteria for its flagship 30 hours offer for three and four-year-olds to cover those in education, training and on zero-hour contracts,” she said.
“This would go some way in reducing some of the barriers that are blocking single parents from entering high quality, secure employment.”
Coventry is the West Midlands’ priciest place for childcare, with an average hourly cost of £5, which is just above the national average of £4.92.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, parents in Westminster fork out the most with an hourly cost of £8.50. The cheapest place is North Tyneside with an average of just £3.50 an hour.
Children and Families Minister, Nadhim Zahawi, said: “We want every child to have the best start in life, with access to high-quality childcare and early years education.
“Ofsted data shows 94 per cent of childcare providers are rated good or outstanding.”
