Childcare fees higher than housing costs in UK

Childcare fees higher than housing costs in UK (6th February, 2014)

The Reading / Listening - Level 4

British parents pay more on childcare each year than on their mortgage. This is according to a survey from a British childcare group. It said nursery fees in some areas have risen by up to 13 per cent in the past year. Babysitting and child-minding costs increased by an average of four per cent. The report said childcare in the U.K. is becoming less affordable. A lack of nursery places shows the system isn't working.

Would-be parents might now think twice about starting a family. A family of four with one child at nursery and another in an after-school club spends an average of $12,571 a year on childcare. That's a quarter of their income. This does not include food, clothes, entertainment, toys, books and electronic gadgets for the children. A childcare expert warned that when parents have to spend so much on childcare, the system "isn't fit for purpose".

Try the same news story at these levels:

Level 5 or Level 6

Sources

http://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/nursery-world/news/1142471/childcare-fees-mortgage-rise-slows
http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2014/03/03/childcare-costs-higher-than-average-uk-mortgage-payments/
http://www.bbc.com/news/education-26373725

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.	British parents pay	a.	affordable
2.	This is according	b.	fees
3.	nursery	c.	the system isn't working
4.	increased by an	d.	more on childcare
5.	becoming less	e.	average of four per cent
6.	A lack of nursery places shows	f.	to a survey

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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.	Would-be	a.	gadgets
2.	think twice about	b.	of $12,571
3.	spends an average	c.	for purpose
4.	That's a quarter	d.	parents
5.	electronic	e.	starting a family
6.	isn't fit	f.	of their income

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

British (1) ___________________ childcare each year than on their mortgage. This (2) ___________________ survey from a British childcare group. It said nursery fees in some (3) ___________________ up to 13 per cent in the past year. Babysitting (4) ___________________ increased by an average of four per cent. The (5) ___________________ the U.K. is becoming less affordable. A (6) ___________________ shows the system isn't working.

Would-be parents might (7) ___________________ starting a family. A family of (8) ___________________ at nursery and another in an after-school club spends an average of $12,571 a year on childcare. That's a (9) ___________________. This does not include food, clothes, entertainment, toys, books (10) ___________________ for the children. A childcare expert warned that when parents (11) ___________________ much on childcare, the system "(12) ___________________ ".

CHILDCARE COSTS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about childcare costs in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

	STUDENT 1 _____________	STUDENT 2 _____________	STUDENT 3 _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.

Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.

Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)	________________________________________________________
b)	________________________________________________________
c)	________________________________________________________
d)	________________________________________________________
e)	________________________________________________________
f)	________________________________________________________
g)	________________________________________________________
h)	________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

Write about childcare costs for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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