Average childcare costs in Scotland up 28% in three years, poll finds

24 July 2019, 07:16 | Updated: 24 July 2019, 07:18

Childcare costs in Scotland have risen by more than a quarter in the past three years, according to a survey.

The YouGov poll of more than 3,000 people across Scotland found parents now spend an average of £276 on childcare per month - £3,312 a year.

The cost has risen £720 a year since 2016, when the average monthly spend was £216, a 28% increase.

Parents are turning to grandparents to provide free care, findings suggest.

More than half of grandparents (53%) said they look after their grandchildren either regularly or on an occasional basis.

They spend 9.3 hours a week on average with their grandchildren, up from 8 hours in 2016.

The proportion providing 20 or more hours of care each week has risen from 9% to 15% over the same period.

Researchers found 6% of parents said they ask their children's great-grandparents to provide regular childcare.

Just under half (46%) of grandparents said they regularly or occasionally take their grandchildren on holiday.

Around three in 10 (29%) regularly drop off and pick up the youngsters from nursery or school.

The survey carried out by YouGov for Bank of Scotland's latest How Scotland Lives research, was conducted online and questioned 3,048 adults in Scotland.

Ricky Diggings, director, Bank of Scotland, said: "The cost of childcare can be a major financial burden for parents, particularly during times when their kids are on holiday.

"While most grandparents are more than happy to help out and enjoy spending time with their grandchildren, the financial benefit this also provides to families should not be underestimated.

"Lower income households that don't have savings to fall back on could find the summer months a more difficult time if they can't call on friends or family for support."