I agree, but before she gives up, have you heard of "Childcare vouchers", a scheme introduced in April 2005. I have just read about this in my NCT newsletter. If the employer runs the scheme, or if you can persuade them to start, you can save around �1,000 per year on childcare, where the childcare provider is OFSTED registered (i.e. daycare nursery or childminder). The inducement to the employer is that they save 12.8 per cent Nat'l Insurance. Two main agencies run the scheme: busybees:
www.busybees.com; Accor:
www.childcarevouchers.co.uk. Both parents can participate in the scheme. First speak to your respective payroll or personnel dept; if they are not running the scheme already, you could try and gain the support of your collegues.