St Helens mums speak of tough career choices as childcare costs soar

Pregnant Then Screwed, a national charity that seeks to protect, support and promote the rights of pregnant women and mothers, found that the UK has the most expensive childcare system in the world, with 35.7 per cent of average household income being spent on it.

Commenting of the findings, the charity said: “The financial burden of childcare has meant that 17 per cent of parents have had to leave their jobs, with 62 per cent saying they work fewer hours because of childcare costs.

“It is mostly women who bear the brunt of childcare, so this further adds to the motherhood penalty and the gender pay gap.”

The issue has been a hot topic of debate in Parliament, on social media and in homes across the nation.

At present, there is tax free childcare for those who are employed, and 30 hours’ free’ childcare for children from ages three and up.

The average maternity leave ends around nine to ten months, meaning working parents are left with more than two years of childcare payments, which due to the cost-of-living crisis is rising.

Inflation is piling the pressure of the costs faced by nurseries and The Early Years Alliance has reported that 99 per cent of childcare providers in the UK that the government isn't giving the early years sector enough financial support. Some providers being forced to close due to the financial strain.

The Star reached out to parents across St Helens and three mums have shared their stories.

A mum from Grange Park, who has a 21-month-old, said: “I had to give up my job to look after my little girl.

“ I used to have two jobs. One full time and one part time on Fridays.

“I looked into childcare to see if it was feasible going back to my full-time job. It wasn't. I wouldn't have had enough left over to pay my bills after paying for childcare. “I don't have any family to help as everyone works full time.

“I wanted to go back to my Friday job, but it worked out that I would only be earning around £3 an hour after paying for childcare for the day.

“Don't get me wrong I'm truly happy to be at home with my little girl. I love that I have all this time to spend with her, but it can also be hard and lonely.”

Another mum-of-one, who is a teacher from Rainford, added: “I would like two children but as soon as this happens childcare will take the entirety of my wage and therefore there will be no point in me working.”

Meanwhile a mum to a one-year-old in Thatto Heath says she’s missed out on opportunities in work by dropping days of work.

She added: “I had to drop a day in work going from five days a week to four days. I had to miss out on a promotion, my holidays are now reduced by seven days as well as my wage dropping, which isn't ideal.

“I miss out on things in work and there are rumours of redundancies which worries me as I am no longer classed as full time and I think I would be the easiest to get rid of because of my reduced days.

“Our little one only goes to nursery two days a week as we can't afford any more days and we rely on both grandparents to have the little one a day each per week (on their days off work).

“If childcare was much cheaper or they provided some free hours at a much younger age then I would be able to work the five days a week and not miss out on anything or worry.”

Both St Helens MPs are backing the call for changes to the childcare system, stating that changes must be made.

St Helens South and Whiston MP, Marie Rimmer, said: “There is something fundamentally wrong with the system when it is cheaper for parents to give up working to look after their children.

“Less women are having children in part due to the associated costs. Yet it is these children that are the future of our country. They will be the workers that drive our country forward and pay for our pensions.

“The other issue is that wages have stagnated in our country. For too long we have been a low wage economy. We need to be a high wage economy so being in work pays.

“A person working a full time job should have enough to pay their bills, including any childcare costs, and feed their family. Right now this is not always the case.

“A Labour government will make sure that all families have access to high quality and affordable childcare. It is a must for the future of our country.

“The Tories are currently out of ideas when it comes to helping young families. It’s time for them to get out of the way so Labour can bring in positive change for our country.”

St Helens North MP, Conor McGinn added: “We need properly funded wraparound childcare provision to give our kids the best start in life and also to support parents - especially mums - who want to continue their careers while raising a family.

“The world of work is changing and with hybrid and flexible working there is no reason why that can’t be the case.

“I know from my own kids that we’re lucky to have some brilliant childcare providers in St Helens, they need to be properly recognised and supported.”