Summary
Childcare in the UK is amongst the most expensive in the world – and prices keep rising. For some families, nursery fees cost more than the monthly mortgage. Whether you are looking at nurseries or childminders for your pre-school children what financial help is available to reduce costs? What is tax-free childcare and how does it work? Who is eligible for 15 or 30 hours’ free childcare a week – and what help can you get to pay for childcare if you’re on Universal Credit? We'll explore the options available to parents wanting to give their child the best start in life.
Adam Shaw and a panel of guests will be taking your calls, emails and tweets. Do get in touch. Call 03700 100 444 – lines open at 1300 on Wednesday 19 June; email moneybox@bbc.co.uk or tweet @moneybox
Guests: Megan Jarvie, Head of Coram Family and Childcare Charlotte McDonough, UK Policy advisor, Save the Children Neil Hill, Money expert, Money Advice Service
Presenter: Adam Shaw Producer: Sally Abrahams
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | You're about to listen to a BBC podcast, but this is about something else you might enjoy. |
| 0:05.4 | My name's Katie Lecky and I'm an assistant commissioner for on demand music on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:10.8 | The BBC has an incredible musical heritage and culture and as a music lover, I love being part of that. |
| 0:17.5 | With music on sounds, we offer collections and mixes for everything, from workouts to |
| 0:22.4 | helping you nod off, boogie in your kitchen, or even just a moment of calm. And they're all put |
| 0:28.3 | together by people who know their stuff. So if you want some expertly curated music in your life, |
| 0:35.0 | check out BBC Sounds. |
| 0:41.3 | BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts. |
| 0:47.4 | Many thanks, good afternoon. Working parents with toddlers often pay more for childcare than for their mortgage or rent. A full-time private nursery place for a child under two typically costs |
| 0:52.9 | more than £1,000 a month. |
| 0:55.3 | Over a million parents with preschool children are working full time and so of course rely heavily |
| 1:00.8 | on childcare whatever the cost. Yet many families are still not taking advantage of some |
| 1:06.8 | of the financial help which is available. Well, in today's program, we'll be looking at the childcare options out there |
| 1:12.8 | and what financial support is there to make it more affordable. |
| 1:16.5 | As ever, if you've a question about how to get help with childcare funding, |
| 1:19.7 | or indeed a story to share with us, do call us right now. |
| 1:23.6 | Our number is 0300-100-444. |
| 1:27.1 | That's 0-3-700-100 4444. That's 0300, 100444. |
| 1:30.3 | Alternatively, you can email moneybox at BBC.co.uk, or you can tweet us at Moneybox. |
| 1:37.7 | Before all of that, let's hear first from Vicky, who has two children under five and works full-time. |
| 1:43.8 | The cost of both of them in full-time nursery is £1,500 a month. |
| 1:49.5 | My disposable income is obviously very little. |
... |
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