News · 25 May 2026
Three-quarters of parents pay extra nursery fees
Unsplash / Tanaphong Toochinda
Families in England are paying additional costs for nursery care, with some spending thousands annually on items like food and nappies. Campaigners argue that these fees are a direct response to the government's inadequate financial provision for complimentary childcare, prompting the education secretary to request an inquiry by a competition watchdog. A survey from last year revealed nearly three-quarters of parents with formal childcare encountered these extra payments.
Reported by Guardian · How we write briefs