To think the government consistently underestimates the actual cost of childcare?

[MsMittens]

Another day another report about rising childcare costs. But what strikes me is that the figures referred to in these reports are significantly lower than the amounts actually paid for childcare (particularly in London and the South East). By way of example our DD is in nursery 4 days per week at a cost of £1,023 per month so annual cost is over £12,200 per annum and that is not even a full time place. We also have an au pair (I accept that may be a bit of a luxury but we have no family nearby to help out and both work full time in demanding jobs). So if we include au pair costs you are looking at £15,000 per annum. That is for 1 child under 3! If others are paying similar amounts (which I am guessing is the case as DDs nursery is oversubscribed), then these reports are grossly inaccurate and the Gov has no idea of the scale of the problem. AIBU to wonder where on earth the Gov gets its figures from?

This just enrages me as with costs like this of course it barely pays for some families to have both parens at work when childcare costs are this high and what generally happens is women leave the workforce (great if it is out of choice to be SAHM but not great if it is due to necessity). And don't even get me started on how hard it must be for single parent families. I just feel like the Gov cannot possibly assist parents if they have no idea of the actual costs involved.

Well, there are quite a lot of people that don't live in London or the SE you know.
I live in a big city - I've just checked, and, for 4 days a week at an excellent Nursery near here is £850 per month, so £10,200pa. Then, at 3, you get 15 of those hours (per week) for free, and of course, you can apply for tax credits if on a low income.
Yes, of course it's a big expense, but it's a very short term / temporary one - in terms of your working life - which you have planned to make.
I do have massive sympathy for parents of multiples, as that probably wasn't factored into the planning!

Yes, money will be tight for most families during those years - but most of us have muddled by, one way or another.

I'm puzzled as to why they quote the costs of PT nursery places rather than FT. I know that many children go PT, but typically salaries are quoted for FT roles. You need to compare like-for-like.

my son is at nursery full-time and i pay 860 a month. I was lucky to find that nursery. all the others i looked at were about 1100 a month, one is quoted me 1800 a month. The figures are understated. If my child is ill and i am supposed to get last minute emergency care for a week at at a time (in cases of chicken pox, conjunctivitis etc) that could cost anything up to 20/hr in addition to my nursery fees....I have no family or support close by to cover for me....what am i supposed to do?? I agree costs are understated...true it may only be in London but it makes a difference to those of us in London. I am lucky that my employers are flexible but i hate to think what would happen if they weren't i do claim tax credits to help but it still a battle and i just cannot afford last minute emergency care.

YANBU, this lot of tossers whom supposedly represent us have their heads up their arses and are so far removed from the average person that they may as well live on mars!

I'm getting a feeling of deja vu.....

I agree and disagree with the poster who said it is a short-term expense. We now have two dc at school and are fortunate enough to be able to afford for dh to be a sahd up to now. However, looking at him now returning to work, we find that the cost of before and after school clubs for the two of them cost about the same as having one toddler in f/t childcare would, which I find ridiculous. It means that dh would be working to pay for that with a tiny bit over.

Childcare cost should be far more heavily subsidised imo, otherwise it encourages people to stay out of work for years and years, becoming deskilled.

I think the problem is that most parents underestimate the cost of childcare when planning or deciding to have a child