Choosing childcare

Creative solutions
Kate has four children, ranging from 6 to 14, and says life now is more complicated than when they were babies. She's a single parent and works as an optician, which involves two late evenings. ‘Two are at secondary school and feel they don't need anyone to look after them, but I like to be sure they're home and safe. The other two are at primary school and need to be picked up at three o'clock. The only solution I've been able to find is employing a housekeeper for the hours I'm not there. I pay her £6 an hour, which I think is quite a bargain, I feel I was lucky to get someone to work these odd hours. It also solves my problem during the school holidays. My employer is prepared to be flexible about unpaid time off to fit in with the kids, but I can't afford to take too much of it.’

The national charity, Day Care Trust, campaigns to promote high quality, affordable childcare. They offer lots of practical advice and information on choosing the right type for your circumstances. They also have a childcare hotline which provides free information and advice – 020 7739 2866, Monday - Friday 10am to 5pm.