‘It’s far too little too late’

Maxine Bell, 36, says she wishes the childcare support announced yesterday had come sooner.

“It’s far too little too late,” she said. “The problem is now.

“So many providers have either had to close or have had to streamline down their staff. The fight for places is already such a scramble. But actually people need intervention now, they need the support now.

“Normal families like ours can’t afford these extortionate prices.”

Ms Bell, who works for a wildlife conservation charity, has been working full-time while her husband is part-time and takes care of their children two days a week. Her mother has been looking after her 18-month-old for three days a week, to help them save on the cost of nursery, which is about £60 a day in their area.

Ms Bell, from Colchester, Essex, is going to have to wait until next April to get 15 hours of childcare for her youngest, Olive, who will be two in October.

By the time the full 30 hours is rolled out, Olive will be in school.

She has two other children, aged four and six.

Cheri Chadwick, also 36, said the new support would allow her to have more children.

“It’s fantastic news,” she said. “We weren’t sure if we could afford to have another child.”

Ms Chadwick, a teacher from Derby, had to reduce her working hours because she could not afford the fees for her son Bramwell, who is two years old.

She and her partner can only afford to pay for nursery two days a week. Her mother, Maria, retired early at 62, to help them out for another two days a week.

For two days a week, Ms Chadwick’s nursery costs are now about £450 a month. If she had to pay full-time nursery costs, they would have swallowed up two thirds of her salary.