Childcare costs: Welsh families face 'rising tide as prices increase again'
A leading childcare charity is warning of a "rising tide of childcare costs" for Welsh families.
New research from Coram Family and Childcare found parents now pay an average of £116 per week for just a part-time nursery place.
The Childcare Survey 2019 found a 2% increase in the cost of childcare in the last year.
The charity warns that in 85% of local authorities in Wales, a full time nursery place for a child under two years old is more expensive than the maximum costs supported under Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit.
That means families in these areas will find that they may end up worse off working or working more hours according to report authors.
Megan Jarvie from the Family and Childcare Trust says Childcare providers are "struggling to make ends meet".
In addition, the report found:
Less than half of local areas in Wales have enough childcare places for parents working full time.
A part time place with a childminder for a child under two costs an average of £106 per week.
Five days a week in an after school club costs an average of £49 per week.
A Welsh Government spokesperson responded to the report, saying childcare for all children is "a priority".
In the short term, Coram Family and Childcare is calling on the government to increase the maximum amount of childcare costs that are supported by Universal Credit.
The charity is also asking authorities to consider how current spend on childcare could be reallocated to better meet the needs of disadvantaged and low income children.