High childcare costs mean one in five parents are considering reducing hours or giving up work altogether in 2015

One in five of all parents with childcare costs will reduce the hours they work or will consider giving up work altogether in 2015.

The national survey of 1,000 parents of children aged between 0-16, commissioned by 4Children and carried out by Opinium, found that of those parents paying for childcare, almost a fifth (18%) are considering reducing their hours at work or giving up their job altogether because of the financial strain.

While more than a quarter (28%) of the same parents will be cutting back on treats in order to meet high childcare costs, a worrying 16% admit they will have to cut back on essentials over the next 12 months.

With four months to go until the General Election, parents with young children (aged 0-4)in particular are in real need of support - with almost three quarters (73%) calling on political parties to offer them more help with the cost of childcare and 62% believing it should be an election priority.

4Children Chief Executive Anne Longfield OBE said:

Childcare represents a huge financial challenge for most parents and our poll shows the real impact costs are having on family life – from giving up work to cutting back on essentials. Removing parents’ choice as to whether or not they continue to work after having children is not the answer for families or for the economy.

“Parents of the youngest children are feeling the pressures most acutely and are calling on politicians to do more to help, particularly with the cost of childcare.

“The family vote will be key at the ballot box in May and 4Children is throwing down the gauntlet to politicians to set out how they will ensure childcare meets the needs of modern family life.”

4Children, the Department for education’s strategic partner for early years and childcare, is running a national childcare hubs pilot scheme to help parents put together a tailored package of childcare by coordinating all the different types of childcare available in the local area.

Notes to editors

The national poll of 1,000 parents with children aged 0-16 living at home was carried out by Opinium online between 29 December 2014 and 2 January 2015.

4Children is piloting childcare hubs across the country in Northumberland, Cambridge, Gloucestershire, Devon, the London boroughs of Merton and Newham and three in York – Dragonfishers, Haxby Road and Ebor in Strensell. They bring together different kinds of childcare in the local area for babies and children up to the age of 11.

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