ESCALATING childcare costs are putting nurseries at risk of closure as Government led childcare schemes leave local businesses out of pocket.

Figures show that hourly childcare costs have risen by 4.1 per cent in just a year and increasing numbers of nurseries are being forced to charge parents for extra services to cover increasing costs.

Wiltshire Council provides the Government funded 30 hour childcare scheme Better 2gether Funding which was used by 83.6 per cent of families across Wiltshire in Spring 2018.

A Wiltshire Council spokesperson said: “We have actively promoted this offer to eligible parents and will continue to do so to ensure that they can take advantage of the funding available to assist with childcare.”

Jennifer Morris, owner of BebeTots Nursery in Westbury, said: “We value our staff and want to pay them a good salary but the amount we receive from the scheme is capped. Because of this we have a lot of pressure to put one member of staff in charge of more children whereas we prefer lower ratios. The money has got to come from somewhere so it does have an impact on business.

"We have now had to introduce a charge for snacks and meals, although we always offered an all-inclusive price but it is now not sustainable with the funding provided from government. Our parents have been very understanding however and we have a lovely group here.

“When I had my daughter and went back to work I paid for my childcare and I think as parents that is what we should do. The government is stretched already and we all know the NHS needs money, there is only so much money in the pot to go around."

Analysis from the Trade Union Congress published earlier in the month also found that fees in the South West have increased by 48 per cent, with care for children aged two rising from £159 in 2008 to £236 in 2018.

Over the same period worker wages have increased by just 24 per cent.

TUC Regional Secretary of the South West, Nigel Costley said: “Working parents have seen childcare fees rocket, as their wages have stagnated and living costs spiral.

“Despite government support, families still face eye-watering nursery bills.

“Britain’s cost of living crisis is having a huge impact on working mums and dads.”