Statement on Annual Childcare Costs survey

29 January 2008

The Professional Association of Nursery Nurses (PANN) has commented on the Daycare Trust's Annual Childcare Costs Survey published on Tuesday 29 January 2008.

PANN Senior Professional Officer Tricia Pritchard said: “As a result of these latest figures, we would urge the Government to think again about its plans for a new banded fees system that would decrease its subsidies of Ofsted's fees.

"Under plans currently being consulted on by the DCSF (Childcare Act 2006: Future Approach to Fees and Subsidies), childcare providers are facing massive rises in registration and annual Ofsted fees (almost trebling in some cases by 2010).  This is an additional cost that can only be met by passing the increase to parents.

"Further increases in the cost of childcare may result in parents looking for cheaper options and a growth in the unqualified, unregulated care sector, making a nonsense of the Government's commitment to high quality childcare for all."