Working mothers have to fork out more for childcare in Britain than in any other country in the developed world.
A third of UK family income goes towards nurseries and childminders – almost four times the cost in Germany and three times that of France.
Charities say the exorbitant costs – which can reach £20,000 per child – are down to the fact that the Government targets state help for childcare towards those on lower incomes, pushing up costs for others.
It means the middle classes are bearing the brunt of spiralling costs, leaving them with bills of more than £160 a week on average for nursery places.
Significant gaps in the provision of emergency, out-of-school, and holiday childcare provision across Wales have been highlighted in a review.
