In a YouGov survey of 2,055 adults earlier this month, 28 per cent of families with children under 18 and earning less than £15,000 a year said they had been unable to find a job or had been forced to leave one because they could not afford to pay for childcare.
UK poverty spokesman for Save the Children, Jason Strelitz, said, 'Many parents on low incomes simply can't afford to go to work. The costs of childcare are so high that by going to work, they lose more money than they make. Many parents have to leave their jobs to look after their children.'
The charity is calling on the Government to raise the minimum wage and working tax credit to help parents.
The survey also highlights how parents face higher costs during the school holidays.
Dr Strelitz added, 'Summer is an extremely expensive time for all parents, but particularly for parents in poverty. They have to keep children entertained with activities that cost money. Many are also missing out on the free meals they receive during term time.'
Save the Children is campaigning for the Government to introduce seasonal grants of £100 in the summer and winter to help the poorest families with the extra costs.
In a separate survey, also published on Wednesday, the Daycare Trust found that the cost of holiday childcare rose more than 10 per cent in the past year.