Parents of young children on the Isle of Wight are estimated to save a combined £7.4million over the coming year following the expansion of government-funded childcare, according to new analysis from Island Labour.
The party says its analysis of Department for Education figures shows there are 926 eligible children aged between 9 months and 2 years on the Isle of Wight.
It estimates parents could collectively save £7,408,000 a year if funded childcare expanded from 15 to 30 hours for eligible working parents.
The national expansion to 30 hours of government-funded childcare was rolled out last September.
Separate research published by the government in March found that funded childcare had cut childcare costs for families in half, with working parents saving an average of £8,000 a year.
According to Coram Family and Childcare’s annual Childcare Survey, the cost of a full-time, 50-hour childcare place for a child under 2 fell by 52% compared with 2024 – from around £305 a week to £149.
The survey also found the cost of a part-time childcare place had fallen back to the same level as 2005.
Island Labour has highlighted the childcare expansion alongside other government measures aimed at reducing costs for families.
Cllr Jock Rafferty, of Island Labour, has said:
“Childcare costs have been too high for too long – but Labour is fighting back. By rolling out 30 hours free childcare to children aged 9 months to 2 years old, we are helping Island parents save an average of £8,000 for each child – that’s a huge help with the cost of living.
“Under Andy Burnham, Labour is working hard to give Island families breathing space as we tackle the cost of living crisis, and to bring back hope. And that’s exactly what we will do.”
That will allow parents to spend more on
booze, cigarettes, vapes and scratchcards.
Lol
Or anything they want after working all week and then going home to wash, cook, clean and care for their families. But what has what other people spend their money on got to do with you?
Wait to the Tories get back in, they will
clamp down on Benefits.
Enjoy it while you still can.
Absolutely. Every parent in the country will immediately sprint to the nearest off-licence and corner shop rather than spending money on their children, household bills or the countless costs that come with raising a family. It’s remarkable how some people can look at millions of hardworking parents and decide they’re all the same. Thankfully, most mums and dads are too busy working, parenting and paying bills to fit that stereotype.
If you can’t afford them, don’t have them.
We can’t keep paying for everyone.