The first year results of a five year study of 3000 children by E4Kids on how the different forms of childhood education affect development have been released.

It revealed that in comparison to the average preschool classroom, the average long day care classroom is “lower in quality”. The researchers say the incongruence could be due to the requirement that preschool teachers be degree qualified and that preschool programs are shorter than long day care services.

Statistics:

54% of parents in Victoria pay more than $300 a week for childcare.

Excess of 1 million children are using approved childcare, an increase of 20% since 2008.

14% of parents use nannies, an increase of 10% from 2012.

Average cost of child care across Australia: $79.70 per day.

25% of working mums say work is not viable because of high childcare costs.

Despite government subsidies, childcare costs are increasing at 3 times the inflation rate.

180 childcare workers leave the industry every week due to low pay.

Read the original article seen in the Sydney Morning Herald here.