Childcare
Summer holiday childcare costs surge to more than £1,000 per child: 'Stressed out to the max'
![child drawing](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/kostiantyn-li-EhXs9Cio2p4-unsplash.jpg?w=768)
Summer holiday childcare costs surge to more than £1,000 per child: 'Stressed out to the max'
More than one in three families 'dread' the summer holidays because of childcare costs, as prices soar again this year in spite of inflation and the cost of living crisis easing
Sunak's flagship free childcare scheme under threat from staffing 'crisis'
![child at window](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/kelli-mcclintock-U3SjBD72Tl0-unsplash.jpg?w=768)
Sunak's flagship free childcare scheme under threat from staffing 'crisis'
Parents can now get 15 hours free childcare for two-year-olds. Here's how
![free childcare](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/bbc-creative-1w20Cysy1cg-unsplash.jpg?w=765)
Parents can now get 15 hours free childcare for two-year-olds. Here's how
Kate Garraway's 'huge debts' from husband's care shows reality of a social care system in crisis
Kate Garraway's 'huge debts' from husband's care shows reality of a social care system in crisis
'Utterly dire situation': Childcare costs surge to 'eye-watering' £158 per week
'Utterly dire situation': Childcare costs surge to 'eye-watering' £158 per week
Tories have promised free childcare for working families. But there's a major problem
![childcare](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/jelleke-vanooteghem-Aqd30KmCc3g-unsplash_1e8a69.jpg?w=768)
Tories have promised free childcare for working families. But there's a major problem
Mum fears telling DWP she's pregnant due to 'cruel' two-child benefit cap: 'Bills are just too much'
![baby dwp](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/amr-taha-P4_ET-WHhBY-unsplash.jpg?w=768)
Mum fears telling DWP she's pregnant due to 'cruel' two-child benefit cap: 'Bills are just too much'
30 hours free childcare: Who is eligible and how do I apply in 2024?
![free childcare](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/pexels-rdne-stock-project-8363052.jpg?w=768)
30 hours free childcare: Who is eligible and how do I apply in 2024?
Tax-free childcare: How does it work, how much can you save and how can you apply?
![tax-free childcare](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/aaron-burden-1zR3WNSTnvY-unsplash.jpg?w=766)
Tax-free childcare: How does it work, how much can you save and how can you apply?
How to get help with childcare if you are on universal credit
![](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/segun-osunyomi-3BztcJxliEM-unsplash.jpg?w=762)
How to get help with childcare if you are on universal credit
All the ways the government's childcare plans will help richer parents and hurt the poor
![30 hours free childcare](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/markus-spiske-ipYwpFUwC-I-unsplash.jpg?w=768)
All the ways the government's childcare plans will help richer parents and hurt the poor
We grilled new children's minister about UK kids living in destitution. It didn't go well
![children's minister](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Portrait.jpeg?w=768)
We grilled new children's minister about UK kids living in destitution. It didn't go well
One in 10 councils face effective bankruptcy as cost of placing children in care soars
![council bankrupt](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/jay-clark-GXxX_rklGEo-unsplash-e1698842507528.jpg?w=768)
One in 10 councils face effective bankruptcy as cost of placing children in care soars
Single mum on universal credit feels 'penalised' because she can't find work around childcare
![single mother/ universal credit](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/image274-copy.jpeg?w=768)
Single mum on universal credit feels 'penalised' because she can't find work around childcare
Parents will 'suffer' balancing work and childcare as schools shut over concrete safety crisis
![schools shut/ concrete safety](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/pexels-camille-lemiale-10036827.jpg?w=768)
Parents will 'suffer' balancing work and childcare as schools shut over concrete safety crisis
This is how much summer holiday childcare will set families back in the cost of living crisis
![summer holiday childcare](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/pexels-yan-krukau-8612990.jpg?w=768)
This is how much summer holiday childcare will set families back in the cost of living crisis
It's time we made childcare about children, not just about work
![Two girls play with wooden blocks in a childcare setting](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/pexels-cottonbro-studio-3662667.jpg?w=768)
It's time we made childcare about children, not just about work
'I got a letter saying I had a six-year-old son I knew nothing about. One of us had to grow up'
![Si Mack performs his new show, kid, at BEAF Festival in Bournemouth.](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Si-Mack-Tattoo.-Image-©️-Roz-Pike-jpg.webp?w=768)
'I got a letter saying I had a six-year-old son I knew nothing about. One of us had to grow up'
Government's £4bn childcare plan will 'leave disadvantaged kids behind', charities warn
![childcare](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/marjorie-bertrand-eyzzqAQhcjI-unsplash-jpg.webp?w=722)
Government's £4bn childcare plan will 'leave disadvantaged kids behind', charities warn
How to get free childcare, tax-free childcare and childcare vouchers to help with Easter holidays costs in 2023
![affordable childcare/ february half term](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/pexels-yan-krukau-8613062.jpg?w=768)
How to get free childcare, tax-free childcare and childcare vouchers to help with Easter holidays costs in 2023
Will Jeremy Hunt's 'back to work' budget be on the money?
![](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/52427786065_8f351858b5_c-e1678790939655.jpg?w=768)
Will Jeremy Hunt's 'back to work' budget be on the money?
5 reasons a four-day working week is the future, according to the largest ever trial
![](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/cdc-T9SwaYf6g40-unsplash-scaled-e1676893538227.jpg?w=768)
5 reasons a four-day working week is the future, according to the largest ever trial
Spain is considering giving single parents double parental leave. Will the UK follow suit?
![](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/paul-hanaoka-a104tlUezug-unsplash-scaled-e1676891044338.jpg?w=768)
Spain is considering giving single parents double parental leave. Will the UK follow suit?
Lack of flexibility in low paid-work means people are having to go part-time, study finds
![](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/vitolda-klein-L8oEIAZ59_g-unsplash-scaled-e1669740860373.jpg?w=768)
Lack of flexibility in low paid-work means people are having to go part-time, study finds
Meet the mums calling for immediate reform of childcare and flexible working
![Two mothers in witch costumes hold sign: 'The future won't raise itself'](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/P1200687-scaled.jpg?w=768)