A think tank has suggested that mothers of young children should be given up to £8,000 a year to stay at home to look after their youngsters.
Researchers at the Civitas think tank are to urge the Government to make the childcare allowance available to help stay-at-home mums after Department of Education officials were reportedly locked in "intense conversations" over how to improve childcare in England and make it more affordable.
Civitas, the Institute for the Study of Civil Society, recommends that existing child benefit and childcare grants should be bundled into a single 'family support benefit' that would give parents of children under the age of four up to £8,000 a year. It says the money could be spent on external childcare, paying a relative to look after the kids or supporting parents staying at home to do so.
