The average cost of childcare in and around Birmingham & how it compares across England

Childcare costs are far higher in some parts of England than others, official figures show.

Figures published by the Department for Education show the average hourly cost of childcare in each local authority area of England for children aged two in 2022, before working families get 30 hours a week of free childcare once their child reaches the age of three.

But families across England are still facing “eye-watering bills” for childcare, a charity has warned.

The figures are based on the department’s annual Survey of Childcare and Early Years Providers. Many parents receive some support through the Tax-Free Childcare or benefits system to partly help pay these costs.

What do the figures show for Birmingham, Solihull & Sandwell and how do they compare?

In Birmingham, the average hourly rate of childcare for children aged two is £5.87, which is the 45th highest rate in the England. The rate in Solihull is higher than Birmingham at £5.57 (59th) and the Sandwell rate is £4.84 (118th).

Jointly topping the table for 2022 are the London boroughs of Hammersmith and Fulham and Kensington and Chelsea, at an average cost of £9.78 per hour. The price of childcare in the capital is typically well above the cost in other parts of the country, with the ten most expensive areas all in London.

The lowest average price is in Hull, at £4.12 per hour, less than half of the price of the most expensive areas.

The average price of a full-time nursery place (50 hours) a week for a child aged under two is now £273.57 in England, according to Coram Family and Childcare’s own annual survey.

This is higher than in both Scotland, where the average price is £212.99, and Wales, at an average of £246.79.

Ahead of next week’s Budget, the charity is calling on the Government to reform the childcare system to ensure a place is guaranteed for every child who needs it and parents only pay what they can afford.

What’s been said about the figures?

Megan Jarvie, head of Coram Family and Childcare, said: “The need for reform of the childcare system is urgent. As well as eye watering bills, parents are facing widening gaps in availability of the childcare they need.”

A Government spokesperson said it had spent more than £20 billion over the past five years to support families with the cost of childcare.

Shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson says reforming the childcare system would be her first priority if Labour won the next general election.