Arranging childcare can feel like trying to solve a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle – only half the pieces are missing and the others keep changing shape. Multiple work patterns have to be negotiated and mapped out. For the lucky few, grandparents may be gently coerced – or even strong-armed – into offering a helping hand.
Then there is the eye-watering cost, which in the UK is among the highest of leading economies, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Once parents have cleared these hurdles, there is still the small matter of actually finding provision – whether it is with a childminder, nursery or private nanny. For the most coveted nurseries, demand is high, with some children added to waiting lists soon after the moment of conception. Fewer than half of local authority areas report having enough childcare to cover the needs of parents working full-time.
