welcome to the programme. a smaller workforce represents a serious economic challenge. it makes it harder for employers to filljobs. it adds to wage pressures that drive inflation. it holds back growth. it reduces the tax revenues available to fund public services. there is an imperative in helping people back to work. the trouble is many parents in this country can t afford to because many would see their take home pay wiped out by the £15,000 average annual cost of full time childcare for a two year old. right now, uk childcare costs are double the 0ecd average. the only two countries where parents spend a higher percentage on childcare are switzerland and new zealand. when i had my daughter, who s five, i had to quit myjob because we couldn t afford childcare. i look forward to going back to nursing. my plan is to go back to nursing. if there d been more options and if childcare had been either cheaper or there was more flexibility, that would ve definitely been something
are having to make choices that we shouldn t be having to make. the governments in wales, scotland and england say they re making huge investments in child care. but the children s charity coram wants funding to apply all year notjust in term time. one primary school in cheshire has decided to use funding from the local council to run a free holiday club for all their pupils. for our working parents, it s really helpful because they know that they can access four hours of childcare for free for four weeks of the summer holidays and they find it a really, really useful tool. definitely one less worry, and if there s a day where there s not a lot of money there or finance there to go out on a day out, i know that he s sorted with, going to a club at school. if you re struggling to afford childcare through this summer holidays, don t forget you now have the legal right to request flexible working. your employer doesn t have to give it to you, but it s always worth a go and do the sums b
probably wouldn t have a job left! summer childcare prices are up right across britain, but bills for parents in wales have jumped the most to more than £1,000 per child this holiday. have movie days, have festival type parties. justine s holiday club in cardiff is one of those private providers who say they ve had to increase prices to cover costs. so for under five year old, it s £50, but for an over five year old, it s £45. and again, we re not the cheapest, but we re offering that longer day. and it s working parents having to suck up those prices. we want our children to be in a safe, loving, brilliant environment like it is here, but it s really causing a squeeze and parents are having to make choices that we shouldn t be having to make. the governments in wales, scotland and england say they re making huge investments in child care. but the children s charity coram wants funding to apply all year notjust in term time.