UK Government to Review Hidden Childcare Costs Amid Cost of Living Concerns | Education secretary to order review of hidden childcare costs | Article text: Education secretary to order review of hidden childcare costs8 minutes agoIain Watson,Political correspondentandChris GrahamGetty ImagesEducation Secretary Bridget Phillipson is to ask the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to examine the hidden costs parents may be charged by childcare providers.The Conservative government introduced 30 hours of free childcare for most working parents of three and four-year-olds in England for 38 weeks a year, and Labour extended eligibility to parents of children as young as nine months old.But ministers are concerned that families are still facing costs to secure places – through demands for non-refundable deposits. In some cases parents who successfully secure a nursery place are expected to meet additional costs for meals, snacks, nappies and suncream.They are concerned this may create a barrier for hard-pressed parents to get the childcare they need and will ask the CMA - which is tasked with promoting competition and protecting consumers - to investigate, the Financial Times first reported.Ministers are concerned the offer of free childcare for many working parents is being undermined.After dismal results in local elections in England this month, the government is keen to demonstrate that it is taking practical steps to tackle the cost of living.Among a flurry of government policy announcements aimed at easing cost of living pressures, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced on Thursday that ticket prices for families at various attractions such as theme parks, zoos and museums would be cheaper during the summer holidays through a cut to VAT.The chancellor also announced free bus journeys for under-16s in England in August and cuts to import taxes on some basic foods under a "Great British Summer Savings" campaign.More than 1.7 million parents in England now use government-funded childcare hours, according to Department for Education (DfE) figures.The average cost of full-time nursery - 50 hours a week - for a child under two in England is just under £149 per week in 2026.That is a 39% drop from last year, according to the latest annual survey from the Coram Family and Childcare charity, which tracks the cost of childcare in England, Scotland and Wales.More on this story | Src: BBC News (GB) | id: 01KSEC6V7R5J7VJH7YG63RFK1T | title_en: Education secretary to order review of hidden childcare costs | description_en: null | summary_en: - The UK Government will ask the Competition and Markets Authority to investigate hidden childcare costs. - Parents are reportedly facing charges for non-refundable deposits, meals, nappies, and suncream, undermining free childcare offers. - This review is part of the government's efforts to address the cost of living crisis. | perspective_en: The UK's Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, is set to launch a review into hidden costs parents face when accessing government-funded childcare. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will be asked to examine charges that may be levied by childcare providers, beyond the 30 hours of free childcare offered to most working parents of three and four-year-olds, and extended by Labour to younger children. Ministers are concerned that families are being asked to pay non-refundable deposits and additional costs for essentials like meals, nappies, and suncream, which could act as a barrier to accessing necessary childcare. This initiative is framed as a practical step to help ease the cost of living pressures on families. The government is keen to demonstrate action following recent local election results. Alongside this childcare review, other measures to alleviate financial burdens include a VAT cut on family attraction tickets for the summer holidays, free bus travel for under-16s in August, and reduced import taxes on basic foods. Department for Education figures show that over 1.7 million parents in England currently utilize government-funded childcare hours. The average weekly cost for full-time nursery care for a child under two in England is nearly £149, though this represents a 39% decrease from the previous year according to the Coram Family and Childcare charity. | keywords: [uk, childcare costs, education secretary, competition and markets authority, cost of living, bridget phillipson, working parents] | quotes: [] | sentiment_label: neutral | article_type: null | sourcing_label: named-sources | story_status: announced

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