CHILDCARE for the under-twos costs less now than it did last year, although older children are costing parents more.

Day nursery fees for the youngest age group have dropped by 16 pence per hour in the past year to an average hourly rate of £5.16, while the price of sending two and three-year-olds to day nursery has increased by 14 pence to £4.62.

The results were announced today by the Jersey Child Care Trust, who have carried out a survey of child-care costs in the Island.

Trust executive director Fiona Vacher said the survey gave up-to-date costs on day nurseries, pre-schools, school-aged care, family day carers, nannies, and for the first time, babysitters, and there had been a response rate of up to 79 per cent.

She said: ‘With this information available the trust is in a much better position to give accurate advice to parents about child-care costs and choices in Jersey.

In addition, we have valuable comparable data for child-care businesses to consider whether they are offering a fair deal to their employees in terms of rates of pay.’