Childcare Costs "Causing Parents' Poverty"

A report's found the cost of childcare is leading parents into in-work poverty.

Citizens Advice Scotland found 25 hours a week of pre-school education costs around £5,500 a year.

That's roughly a quarter of the average household salary of around £30,000.

CAS Report Findings:

• The average annual cost of childcare in Scotland is over£5,000 for 25 hours care per week for children under the age of five. This is un-affordable for many Scottish parents who want to work but can’t meet these costs.
• Parents in Scotland spend 27% of their household income on childcare, while the average of parent in OECD countries is just 12%.
• Only 23% of Scotland’s Local Authorities felt that there was enough childcare for working parents in their area, compared with 54% of English Local Authorities
• There are also wide regional variations within Scotland. Costs for part-time nursery childcare in Scotland vary as much as £3,341 between different Council areas.
• Changes to tax credits have cut the support that is available to top up family incomes, leaving many working parents struggling to make ends meet.

Rob Gowans from CAS says it's about pulling together to tackle the problem: