'Crippling' Scottish childcare costs are pricing parents out of work and taking up half their wages

Mums and dads in Glasgow have hit out at the 'unaffordable' cost of childcare, which is taking up more than half of many parents' wages in the city.

Parents across Scotland are voicing their frustration over exorbitant childcare costs, which are preventing many from working full time or consuming more than half of their earnings. Scotland is reported to have the highest childcare expenses in Europe, with a full-time nursery spot for a two year old child costing an eye-watering £270 per week, as per Day Nurseries.

The steep prices are effectively sidelining parents from the workforce or limiting their work hours. Rhiannon Neale, a photographer based in Scotstoun with her husband Paul and their children Charlotte, seven, and nearly three year old Poppy, has spoken out about the financial strain.

Hailing originally from Canada, Rhiannon finds Glasgow's childcare fees to be prohibitively expensive for most families. They shell out £900 a month for Poppy's nursery care for just 2.5 days a week, forcing Rhiannon to often work on her editing until 1am after the kids are in bed.

Poppy, who has Rett syndrome—a rare genetic disorder affecting her movement and speech—requires specialised nursery care, for which the family receives no financial assistance. Rhiannon expressed her dismay: "Poppy was at another slightly cheaper nursery but we didn't like the standard of care so moved her to one with a more specialist approach to children with additional needs. We are paying £900 a month for Poppy to attend 2.5 days a week which is just outrageous. That is more than most people would earn in 2.5 days.

"I'm from Canada where friends are paying $400, about £220, for full time nursery hours. Something needs to be done, it makes working not an option for lots of families", reports Glasgow Live.

"Being a photographer I work a lot of weekends and my husband has the kids while I work and then I squeeze in my other work while the kids are at school and nursery but it is a struggle. I am regularly up editing until 1am because I need to fit in the work while the kids are asleep. If childcare was more affordable I could work in normal hours."

Rhiannon, who hosts a podcast about working and motherhood, Chaos and Courage, added: "It is so disheartening, lots of parents, especially mums, are priced out of being able to work with the high childcare fees. It makes re-entering the world of work more difficult and you lost a bit of your sense of identity."

Lesley Collins runs The mum Club Glasgow with Steph McLeish. The club connects mums, giving them a community and place to meet and chat.

She said the theme of childcare costs comes up a lot at the brunch meet ups they host.

Lesley, a mum of two, said: "The Mum Club Glasgow has a lot of brand new mums and they are often shocked at the price of childcare, it makes going back to work impossible for lots. We see mums worried about how they are going to pay nursery fees as well as all the other household bills."

"Mums want to make their own money and advance their career but the astonishing charges make it impossible."

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Daycare Trust director Stephen Burke highlighted the financial plight facing UK parents, noting that they grapple with the steepest childcare costs in Europe. He commented: "That means many families simply can't afford to use quality childcare. Children are missing out on early learning and parents are trapped in a low pay/no pay cycle."

Additionally, he pointed out, "With a quarter of children growing up in workless families, childcare is key to tackling child poverty and helping parents to work, learn and boost family income."

Burke stressed the importance of childcare as a community cornerstone, akin to schools and hospitals, calling for substantial long-term government investment: "Childcare is a crucial part of the local community like schools and hospitals and needs much greater long-term government funding."

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