Stories

Tue, 28 Apr 2026

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 'My husband might give up work to care for our kids' - nursery bills in Wales highest in Britain

Parents in Wales say the cost of childcare is one of their biggest worries ahead of the election.

* A mother of two from Connah's Quay, Flintshire says she and her husband may have had more children if it wasn't for the high cost of childcare in Wales.
* The average cost of a part-time nursery place in Wales is £166.33 a week, an increase of 8% on 2025.
* Two funded childcare schemes exist in Wales: the Childcare Offer and Flying Start, but some parents say they don't provide enough support.
* Parents can claim up to 30 hours of free childcare per week for children aged three and four through the Childcare Offer, while Flying Start provides 12.5 hours of free childcare per week to two-year-olds in eligible areas.
* England offers 30 hours of free childcare a week from nine months old, which some Welsh parents say they wish they had access to.
* A mother who moved to Flintshire from Chester says she was unaware of the difference in childcare provision between Wales and England.
* Some childcare providers are struggling with low funding rates and staffing challenges.
* Ahead of the Senedd election, political parties have made various pledges about what they would offer in regards to childcare in Wales, including expanding funded childcare to babies from nine months old.