In its 16th annual Childcare Survey, the Family and Childcare Trust reveals that although there is some reprieve for families as nursery prices held steady and childminder prices rose just above inflation at 1.9 per cent, this will be scarce relief for families who can be spending up to 45 per cent of their disposable income on average childcare costs.

Costs also aren't the only problem: many parents can’t find the childcare they need. In England, only half of areas have enough childcare for parents working full time. The gaps are even bigger for parents who do not work typical office hours, where only one in eight areas have enough care. Families with disabled children are also likely to struggle: only 18 per cent of areas have enough childcare for them.

Parents are effectively shut out of the workplace by crippling childcare costs. While recent Governments have rightfully invested in childcare, we call for a robust childcare strategy to make sure that every parent is better off working after they have paid for childcare.