Scots Nursery Fees Rising Twice As Fast As In England

Nursery fees in Scotland are increasing at almost twice the rate of those in England, according to a report. The survey, by Daycare Trust and Children in Scotland, also revealed that childcare costs north of the Border have gone up by more than five times the rate of those in Wales.

Fees for childminders and out-of-school clubs have also increased dramatically, according to the report. The findings prompted calls for the Scottish Executive to provide extra funding to make childcare more affordable for parents.

Bronwen Cohen, the chief executive of Children in Scotland, said: “In Scotland in 2007 we should not still be in the position where access to services for young children is determined by their parents’ income.”

According to the report, which was based on a survey of local authorities, who provided information for public and private nurseries, a typical full-time nursery place for a child aged under two is £146 a week, compared to £132 a year ago – a rise of 10 per cent.

In England, although the cost of childcare is slightly more at £152 a week, the year-on-year rise is only 6 per cent. The increase in Wales, where the weekly cost of a nursery place averages £131, was just 2 per cent.

Over the same period, childminders’ fees went up by 7 per cent to £141 a week, while the cost of a place at an out-of-school club rose by 15 per cent to £38.

Although the Scottish Executive pays for all three- and four-year-olds to have 12.5 hours of free nursery education every week, experts say that is not enough. Alison Garnham, the joint-chief executive of Daycare Trust, pointed out that nursery costs account for almost one-third of average earnings.

“Parents cannot afford to bear the burden of increasing childcare costs alone,” she said.

“Despite significant government investment in early years and childcare, funding needs to be further improved so that all children have access to high-quality, affordable childcare.”

One nursery owner yesterday said Executive moves to drive up standards in the pre-school sector were behind the large rise in costs.

Grace Kerr, the joint-managing director of Little Monkeys nursery in Edinburgh, said: “Staffing costs are one of the biggest reasons nurseries are increasing their fees. There is a new Executive requirement for every member of staff to either have a childcare qualification or to be working towards one.

“Nurseries are now working towards having fully qualified staff and that’s reflected in the costs that parents have to pay.”

A spokesman for the Executive questioned whether the figures contained in the report were “reliable”. He added: “Nevertheless, the figures show that the average costs in Scotland are still cheaper than in England.

“Funding for these services has risen from £5.75 million in 1999-2000 to its present level of over £44 million.

“The main support for childcare costs to parents are in the form of tax credits and are therefore reserved matters dealt with by HM Revenue and Customs.”

SNP PLEDGE OVER HOURS

THE SNP yesterday pledged to increase the amount of free nursery education for pre-school youngsters by 50 per cent if it wins the Holyrood election.

Unveiling their education plans for the upcoming Holyrood election, the Nationalists said every three- and four-year-old would be entitled to an extra 200 hours per year.

The SNP also said every pre-school child would have access to a nursery teacher, following concerns that some local authorities are moving them into primaries.

Nicola Sturgeon, the SNP leader at Holyrood, said: “If we do more for our young people in nursery and the early years of primary school, the benefits will be felt throughout their education.”

The Lib Dems have said they want to provide every Scottish two-year-old with a free nursery place, indicating that childcare services are set to be a key election battleground. Iain Smith, the education spokesman, accused the SNP of “ignoring children under the age of three”.

He said: “If we are to break the cycle of deprivation and under-achievement that remains all too evident in many of our communities, we must invest more and invest earlier in our youngest children.”