CHILDCARE costs have rocketed in recent years, pricing many parents out of the market. Some families have to rely on friends and relatives to look after the kids to enable them to go out to work.

Other mums have given up their careers because soaring childcare bills have made going back to work financially unviable.

While those who do go back to work as soon as maternity leave ends face hefty nursery bills or nanny fees at the end of each month.

A survey by The Daycare Trust charity found that a typical full-time nursery place for a child under two is £152 a week – a rise of six per cent on last year.

Kate Goddard, the charity's policy and research officer, said that as there is no government regulation of childcare costs, prices can vary widely especially in regions such as the north west with nurseries and childminders in more affluent areas charging more for their services.

She said: “The Greater Manchester region is a good example of this as nurseries in relatively affluent Cheshire often charge a lot more.

More subsidies

“We believe the government should provide more subsidies for childcare. Currently, every three and four-year-old is entitled to 12.5 hours of free nursery care each week. We would like to see this extended to 20 hours for every two, three and four-year-old which would help a lot of families.”

Choosing the right childcare is a decision not only based on cost but what works best for your family.
Whether you opt for family care, a childminder, a nursery or even a nanny, you have to weigh the pros and cons as well as do your sums before making the choice.

Accountant Natasha McCarthy considered hiring a nanny for her three children before deciding that a nursery would work best for her.

Natasha, 33, from Hale, says: “I work from home so although a nanny would have worked out cheaper than sending all three children to nursery it wouldn't have worked for me.

Work from home?

“In order to get my work done I really need the house to be quiet so it is better for me that the children are at nursery.

Also I really do think they get stimulated more at nursery – there is so much more imaginative and creative play going on.

Also the children have become so much more confident and independent. They have built up fantastic relationships with the staff and other children.”

Up until September, when Natasha's eldest daughter Scarlett started school, she had all three children at Oakfield Nursery in Altrincham.

But, at £855 per month per child for full-time nursery care, Natasha and her husband, Billy, faced a hefty childcare bill.

Expensive

“Scarlett and Roman were at nursery full-time, and my youngest, Ava, was there part-time. When I think about how much it costs, it does make me shudder.

I could buy another house with all that money. But, to me, it is worth it because it is such a fantastic nursery and the children are so happy there.

It came second in the national nursery awards last year and the staff are always working to improve facilities and activities for the children. It works well for me.”

Mum-of-three Andrea Sturgess has three children who all go to different childcare every day – making getting out of the house a military operation.

Eldest Tilly, six, goes to private school; Christie, three, is at nursery while baby Theo is cared for by Andrea's mum.

She said: “We have resigned ourselves to the fact that childcare and education will be one of our biggest outgoings. There will be no more fancy holidays and our cars won't get replaced as often.

Choice?

We are so lucky to have my parents helping out with the childcare so much. I do like having the balance of more structured play and activities at nursery and the relaxed family care at home.”

Andrea, 34, from Darwen, Lancashire, returned to work when Tilly was six months old.

At first, Andrea's retired parents took on the childcare but once Tilly was confident walking she wanted her to mix with other children.

But, her first choice of nursery didn't work out. She said: “Although the nursery had come highly recommended and Tilly seemed to enjoy it, a couple of things happened that I wasn't happy with. Tilly would come home really thirsty and when I mentioned it they said she had to ask. But she was only 16 months old and not talking yet.

“Then I was told a child had escaped out of the window and was found dangerously close to a main road.

New nursery

“So, when a new nursery opened next door to my husband's company we went and looked round and loved it. It had a lovely playground and great equipment and its own cook, making healthy meals.

“The manager was very experienced and, despite the fact there were only a handful of children there, we decided to move Tilly. I cried on her first day as I felt so terrible moving her, but she soon settled in and I have never regretted the decision.

“Childcare is so expensive. Sometimes the sums just don't add up. It is OK if you are a high earner or on a low income, it is those people in the middle who seem to have it the worst.”

For more information visit Inland Revenue's Tax Credits website or call 08453003900.

For more information on childcare choices and costs contact the Daycare Trust.

For a list of registered childminders in your area, contact your local authority. Manchester's children's information service is on freephone 0800 083 7921.