One in three parents of under-fives struggling to afford childcare in England

Government survey finds highest proportion since 2014 find it ‘difficult or very difficult’ to afford childcare

A third of parents with young children in England say they are struggling to afford childcare, the highest number in almost a decade, according to a government survey.

One in three of those with children aged four or younger who responded to the survey carried out by Ipsos on behalf of the Department for Education said they struggled to meet childcare costs in 2022.