Expensive childcare forcing mums to cut working hours

Expensive childcare is forcing UK mums to cut their working hours, and is discouraging them from progressing their careers, according to new research from charity Save the Children.

A YouGov poll of over 2,000 parents commissioned by the charity found that more than half (54%) with children of primary school age or younger were forced to reduce their working hours with 40% saying that, if it was more affordable, they would work more.

The majority who use paid childcare (73%) have already seen an increase in fees or anticipate them rising later this year. These costs have forced 8% to choose care which they view as lower quality, with 19% opting to use none at all.

Aston spoke to Save the Children campaigner Michelle Sorrell.

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