There is a difference in schemes available to parents across the UK, depending on how old your child is and, sometimes, where they live
Childcare costs in Wales are the highest in Great Britain, a charity says(Image: John Myers)
The cost of childcare across the UK has been laid out in a major report – and the differences between the nations.
In Wales, some two-year-olds get 12.5 hours a week of childcare for 39 weeks if they are in a Flying Start area. For three and four-year-olds, 30 hours of free childcare is available for children with eligible parents. In term time it is made up of 10 hours in nursery education and 20 hours in childcare.
But a charity which has assessed the difference in childcare offers says parents in Wales “are now paying more than anywhere else in Great Britain”. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here.
The 25th edition of the Childcare Survey 2026, published by Coram Family and Childcare, details the differences in schemes available across the UK.
The analysis shows the cost of childcare for children under two in England has steadily climbed with the bill for a 25-hour (part-time) place in spring, 2024, nearly triple what it was in 2001, and a full-time (50-hour) place costing 2.7 times more by the end of the same period.
Outside of England, where there are no universal funded entitlements for children under two, costs have also risen. A part-time place for a child under two increased by 5% in Scotland, but by 8% in Wales.
It means a part-time nursery place for a child under two now costs an average of £133.08 per week in Scotland, but an average of £166.33 in Wales, an 8% increase on 2025.
The cost changes since 2025 for a child under five with 25 hours of nursery care has gone up 8.5% for children under two, 8.7% for children aged two, and 7.7% for children aged three and four.
There were increases for all nations in the cost of full-time places for three and four-year-olds; 6% in England, 9% in Scotland and 6% in Wales.
While England offers a 30-hour entitlement for under threes, families in Scotland and Wales have not seen the same reduction in costs across the board.
In Wales, the average price of an after-school club is £74.31 per week, compared to £69.38 in England and £71.08 in Scotland. For those who use a childminder until 6pm, Wales is the cheapest of the three nations, at £81.81. In England the equivalent is £85.03 and it’s £94.31 in Scotland.
Welsh councils are, the report says, required to produce a report about whether there is sufficient childcare in their area. The report says councils in Wales reported “high levels of uncertainty”.
Head of Coram Family and Childcare, Lydia Hodges, said: “Parents in Wales have faced increasing childcare costs for several years, and are now paying more than anywhere else in Great Britain.
“Those continued high childcare costs risk keeping parents locked out of the workplace.
“All parties should have affordable childcare as an essential commitment, to support parents to work and to give children the opportunity of early education.”
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “Our childcare programmes make a real difference for families across Wales. Over the last two years, Flying Start has offered childcare to more than 13,400 children, with over 10,000 taking up places. We have prioritised our more disadvantaged communities and made sure provision is sustainable.
“We remain committed to reaching all two-year-olds with Flying Start childcare and three local authorities have already announced that they are doing that.
“The Childcare Offer for Wales benefitted more than 21,200 children in 2023-24, providing up to 30 hours per week of childcare for three- and four-year-olds. It is available to parents in training and education as well as those in work and is available 48 weeks per year, compared to England’s 38 weeks.
“We are investing heavily to expand childcare and early years provision to all two-year olds in Wales. We already invest more than £150m in childcare in Wales each year.”
