[AnnieK]

I think someone else has addressed this but one thing that also needs looking at is childcare costs. I was very lucky that I had my parents around when I returned to work when my son was 6 months old, otherwise I would have really struggled to manage my money if I was forking out £46 per day (what my son's nursery charges and that's fairly cheap) to a nursery. I now get 15 hours per week free child care in term time so he now goes part time to nursery but I still have to rely on help from my dad to care for him when he's not in. If I didn't have that support it would not have been financially viable for me to come back to work and I'm in a fairly well paid job.

I think one of the parties have promised 15 hour free care for 2 year olds (its currently 3) but as Mat pay only lasts for 9 months there is still a shortfall when parents without support have to fund all the childcare which in the private nurseries is very expensive.