Case Study: A Personal Perspective of Navigating the Cost of Childcare in Jersey

As a working parent of three young daughters—including twins—I’ve spent the past seven years navigating the evolving landscape of childcare in Jersey. My experience, while personal, reflects the broader realities many families face when balancing work, finances, and the wellbeing of their children.

A Journey Through Changing Needs

Since the birth of my eldest in 2018, my husband and I have relied on a combination of childcare solutions—nannies, nurseries, and support from my mum—to enable us both to continue working. Each stage brought new logistical and financial considerations:

2018–2019: After maternity leave, I returned to work part-time. A last-minute change in our childcare arrangements meant we had to quickly hire a nanny, which introduced us to the responsibilities of becoming an employer—something I navigated with support from the Jersey Childcare Trust.

2020–2021: The pandemic brought nursery closures and remote working while I was pregnant with twins. We adapted by sharing childcare responsibilities between ourselves and my mum, who adjusted her work hours to help.

2021–2023: With three children in care, we balanced nursery fees, nanny wages, and wraparound support. Even with sibling discounts and government NEF funding, costs were significant—at one point exceeding £2,500 per month.

2023–2024: We moved the twins to a term-time nursery near my eldest’s school to reduce costs and simplify logistics. This helped, but introduced new challenges with later start times and limited options for holiday cover for under 5’s.

The Realities of “Free” Childcare

While NEF funding has been a welcome support, it typically covers hours from 9am to 3pm. To maintain our work schedules, we pay for wraparound care from 08:30 —£40 per week for both children. Though this may seem modest, it adds up and highlights the gap between funding hours and actual working patterns.

Holiday childcare presents another challenge. Many clubs only accept children from Reception age and holiday club fees average around £50 per child per day – that can reach £750 a week for us, making it difficult to cover more than a few weeks holiday each year.

Looking Ahead

From September 2025, all three of our children will be in school, which will ease term-time costs. However, holiday childcare will remain a significant consideration. Based on current rates, we anticipate needing to continue splitting annual leave and relying on family support to manage school breaks.

Reflections

I feel fortunate to have a supportive partner, flexible employers, and a grandparent willing and able to help. These factors have made it possible for me to continue working in a role I love. However, I recognise that not all families have the same support network.

My hope in sharing my experiences is to contribute to the ongoing conversation about how childcare can be made more accessible and sustainable for families in Jersey.

Key Challenges

• The cost of childcare affects not only parents but also grandparents/ extended family members who support, as they often adjust their working hours to help.
• ‘Flexible’ working arrangements can sometimes mean compressing full-time hours into earlier start times or later finishes – meaning longer days, which aren’t supportive to family needs.
• Holiday childcare is limited for children under school age, and available options can be expensive, especially for families with more than one child.
• Parents and grandparents often split annual leave to cover school holidays, making it difficult to take time off together.
• School holidays and parental leave entitlements don’t align, creating gaps in childcare coverage.
• Holiday childcare impacts parents well beyond the ‘early years’, and options for upper-primary & secondary aged children diminish considerably.

Ideas for Improvement

• Increased education for expectant mothers around the considerations, challenges & financials associated with childcare, to support forward planning.
• Explore more affordable or subsidised childcare options during school holidays, including “pay what you can” models.
• Consider aligning NEF funding with standard parental working hours, such as earlier drop-offs.
• Review how private nursery fees are set, implementing regulations around the hourly rates with a view to ensuring affordability for working families – specifically for children aged 1-3, to help bridge the time between maternity & NEF assistance.
• Offer tailored support for families with twins/triplets or multiple children under five.
• Move INSET days into standard school holiday entitlement to help parents manage time off more effectively.

These reflections are offered in the spirit of collaboration and shared learning. I know that many people—across government, childcare providers, and the community—are working hard to support families. I hope my experience can add a helpful perspective to those efforts.