The only way I was able to go back to work full time after having my daughter was thanks to family members agreeing to provide childcare. Had I been dependent on a nursery then returning full time to work would not have been an option.  This is for a number of reasons:

●        Nursery costs for full time for a 1year old would have been £73per day.

●        The opening hours of the nursery would make me late for work as they are not flexible enough.

When starting my daughter in a preschool aged 2, we did not know we were entitled to tax free childcare until after she had started. We thought there were no benefits for us as we were working.

It should be clearer to find out what benefits you are entitled to when you also work. There is lots of childcare support given to those out of work i.e 15hrs funded, but none to those working parents who actually need childcare. Only tax free childcare which is much less value than 15 free hrs.

Also the 30hrs funded is not enough as it is in fact only 22 hours if you need it all year round. As very few people just need term time only childcare. It needs to be full time hours funded ALL YEAR LONG.

The nurseries also charge top-up fees as the funding they receive is apparently not enough. So even with the funding when my daughter turns 3 it will still cost us £20 per day for nursery care. So it is certainly not FREE.

Also it would be of much more value to the economy to pay the grandparents who provide childcare… it is hard work same as a childminder and paying them would also boost businesses as they could afford to take the children out and do things in local areas.  It would help more mother's back into work as nurseries etc don't always open at the exact time you need them to, therefore extended family can help bridge those gaps.

Overall childcare needs to be cheaper for those working full time. It needs to be clear what funding you're entitled to and how to claim. The current system does not allow women to return full time to work unless they are in a very well paid job or have family who can help.