Mothers in Kent pay among the highest childcare costs in the country.

Prices range from £173 to £199 in the South East for 50 hours a week at nursery or around 15 hours a week at an out-of-school club.

The highest spenders in the county are reported to be paying as much as £400 a week or £20,800 a year.

Nationally the average cost of a typical nursery place for a child under two for the year is £8,684.

Overall costs have increased by five per cent in the past 12 months, whereas inflation stands at 3.1 per cent.

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Joint chief executive of the Daycare Trust – who carried out the reseach - Emma Knights said: “Yet again the cost of nursery places has increased above inflation, making pre-school education a big drain on family budgets at a time of financial uncertainty.

“It is crucial that parents claim all the help they are entitled to, and that the Government increase the free childcare entitlement to include all two years olds. The current review of tax credits should increase the maximum proportion of childcare costs the poorest parents can claim from 80% to 100%.

“Also many parents are still reporting a lack of suitable childcare in their neighbourhood, particularly for disabled children and children in secondary school, which is especially worrying in light of recent changes to lone parent benefits.

“We hope the Government will take account of the policy recommendations in this report publish their refreshed childcare strategy so that all parents have access to high quality, affordable childcare.”