What childcare really costs in the UK - and how it compares to other countries

Many parents will be breathing a sigh of relief as the final expansion of Government-funded childcare is rolled out today.

From 1 September, working parents of children aged between nine months and four years in England will have access to 30 hours of funded childcare per week during term time.

But critics say the scheme, which has been branded “free childcare”, is not quite what it says on the tin, with eligible parents still facing eyewatering nursery fees . New Feature

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And although the Government subsidy has brought down costs in England, parents are still likely to spend more of their wages on childcare than in comparable countries such as Germany and France.

Here’s a full breakdown of what childcare really costs in the UK