Today (18 March) Coram Family and Childcare published its 25th annual Childcare Survey looking at childcare costs and availability in England, Wales and Scotland. This is the first survey since the full expansion of childcare for eligible working families in England. Read the full report here.  

Childcare costs in England 

Due to the expansion of childcare support for eligible working families in England – with the September 2025 rollout of the full 30 hours of childcare for eligible children under three – childcare costs for eligible families have fallen for the past two years. However, a widening gap is emerging with families who are not eligible facing rising costs and are spending a much larger share of their household income on childcare. 

Nurseries (both full-time and part-time) remain more expensive than childminders across all age groups and regions in England. For example, the average weekly cost of a full-time nursery place for a child under two is £148.82, 22% higher than the equivalent care provided by a childminder. The survey also highlights significant regional variation. Both nurseries and childminders are most expensive in inner London and least expensive in Yorkshire and the Humber. 

Parent views of entitlement funding in England 

Parents expressed confusion over the entitlement and lack of awareness about the funding avenues available for them. Local authorities in England were asked about parent enquiries to their Family Information Service since April 2025. Half of all enquiries were parents seeking support in understanding the entitlements. Most frequently, these queries related to funded entitlements being “free”, as well as uncertainty around start dates and children’s qualifying age, and confusion between the different types of childcare entitlements.  

Wraparound and holiday care 

The survey also looks at weekly costs for after-school care, comparing childminder provision up to 6pm with after-school clubs. In England, care with a childminder averaged £85.03 per week, compared with £69.38 for an after-school club. There were also notable regional differences – with some local authorities subsidising the cost of after-school clubs but not childminders, contributing to a wider gap in prices between the two types of care. In Wales, after-school provision averaged £81.81 per week at a childminder compared to £74.31 at an after-school club.  

Sufficiency in England 

Local authorities in England were asked about availability and sufficiency of childcare for families.  

• 85% of local authorities reported sufficiency for at least 75% of three- and four-year-olds receiving the 15-hour entitlement.  
• 83% reported sufficiency for at least 75% of three- and four-year olds receiving the 30-hour entitlements  
• Only 13% report sufficiency for at least 75% of 12- to 14-year-olds after-school (and 15% for this age group before-school) 
• 27% report sufficiency for 75% of children of parents working atypical hours. 
• 44% of local authorities in England report having enough childcare for at least 75% of early years children with SEND in their area, falling to 23% for school aged children with SEND. 

 Childcare costs and sufficiency in Wales  

Families in Wales have seen childcare costs rise across all age groups in recent years. As in England, childminders in Wales remain consistently cheaper than nurseries for both full- and part-time provision. 

Local authorities in Wales were also asked about the sufficiency of childcare places, with responses showing considerable uncertainty: 

• 59% reported having enough places for at least 75% of two-year-olds entitled to Flying Start. 
• 47% reported sufficient places for at least 75% of three- and four-year-olds entitled to the 30 hours Childcare Offer. 
• 94% said they could not determine sufficiency for before- and after-school care for 12-14-year-olds (“data was not held or cannot tell”). 
• 76% reported uncertainty about the sufficiency of school-age provision for children with ALN, compared with 59% for early years children with ALN. 

 Parent views and experiences of childcare 

For the second year, the survey asked parents about their experiences of accessing childcare and the benefits it brings to their children and families. 

Parents highlighted several benefits for their children, including: 

• Opportunities to socialise, make friends and interact with other children 
• Development of language, motor and everyday life skills 
• Support with potty training and hygiene habits 
• Greater independence and confidence 
• Increased confidence around food and eating 

Parents also reported wider benefits for themselves and their families. Access to childcare supported their mental health and wellbeing, helped strengthen relationships with their children, and enabled them to look for employment. Many also said it helped them feel part of a community, develop their parenting skills, make friends and spend more quality time with their partners. 

When choosing childcare, parents said the most important factors were: 

• Flexibility to meet their family’s needs 
• A safe and stimulating indoor and outdoor environment 
• Extended hours, including before- and after-school provision 
• Strong approaches to health, nutrition, allergies and dietary requirements 
• A diverse workforce that reflects children’s backgrounds 
• Low staff turnover and clear signs of quality 
• Good communication and updates on their child’s progress 
• Additional support for children with SEND. 

 The full report highlights in-depth analysis and comparison of childcare costs, availability and sufficiency as well as immediate and long-term recommendations on Governments in Great Britain.  

Ka Lai Brightley-Hodges, Head of Coram PACEY comments:  

“Congratulations to Coram Family and Childcare on this milestone 25th survey – an important and influential piece of work that informs our own policy discussions and that of the wider sector and policymakers. Its impact is strengthened by the breadth of voices involved, with insights on a diverse range of provision, including the important role of childminders.  

It is positive to see that the government’s expansion of childcare in England has led to lower costs and eased financial pressure on eligible working families and we must recognise the workforce who work hard to deliver this. However, there is a stark and widening gap between disadvantaged families and working families as support continues to focus primarily on those eligible working parents. We know that children from disadvantaged backgrounds benefit the most from access to high-quality early education and childcare so if the Government in England is serious about meeting the ambitions set out in the Best Start in Life strategy, support must move towards a fairer, universal offer so that all children and families can benefit, not just those who meet employment criteria. 

“The findings also reinforce that what families value goes far beyond “just” childcare. Parents highlight the importance of nurturing environments, strong relationships and flexible, personalised care – qualities that are intrinsic to childminder settings. Childminders offer high-quality, affordable care, building trusted relationships with children and families and providing flexibility that many other forms of provision cannot. Protecting parental choice and growing the childminding workforce in England and Wales must therefore be a key priority. 

“Local authorities in England and Wales are already reporting sufficiency issues for older school-aged children and for families working atypical hours – areas where childminders are often uniquely placed to support families. Childminders also play an important role in supporting children with SEND/ALN. As SEND reforms progress in England, there is a real opportunity to look at best practice in the childminding sector and to consider how we can scale up and better support childminders to continue this vital work and do even more for children and families.” 

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