G8 Education faces higher childcare costs

G8 Education says it is facing a hike in costs as its childcare centres prepare to increase child to staff ratios in 2016.

Childcare centre operator G8 Education is facing steeper costs ahead of new laws on staff to child ratios coming into force in 2016.

G8, which owns 455 centres, says it expects costs to rise by around three per cent, or $2 to $2.20 per child, if the changes are introduced as planned in January.

The federal government's National Quality Standard introduced nationally consistent educator-to-child ratios for children under two in 2012.

Ratios for older children have been introduced gradually since then, with the new rules due to become fully operational on January 1, 2016.

"G8 will make a decision on possible policy changes after the federal government releases its family care package in the near future," the company said on Tuesday.