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The Early Years Alliance issued a comment in response to the Child Poverty Action Group's Cost of a Child 2022 report which was produced by Loughborough University. Within the report, the rising cost of childcare was explored, which revealed: "The persistent rise in childcare costs over the past decade means that childcare now comprises around 60% of the lifetime costs of a child for a couple working full time, compared with around 40% in 2012."

Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said: 

"The fact that, according to Child Poverty Action Group's research, childcare costs now account for 60% of the lifetime cost of a child for a couple working full-time is disappointing but sadly it comes as no surprise. 

“Due to years of underfunding early years providers have been forced to deliver high quality education and care on a shoestring budget. As such many have been left with no choice but to increase fees to make up the gap between government funding and the reality of delivering early years care. 

“As Child Poverty Action Group’s report shows, it is clear that the issue is only getting worse. But we know, and the government knows, that the only way early years and childcare fees can be reduced is if the sector is properly funded, not just during the current cost-of-living crisis but long into the future. 

"As such, rather than wasting time on deregulation plans that will do more harm than good, the government must take swift action to address this before it becomes even more of a catastrophe."