One in seven working mothers spends more than half her earnings on childcare, according to a new survey.
Although more than the half the mothers in Britain with children under five years of age are now working, the survey uncovers many worries about the cost and quality of the care their children receive.
By far the biggest group - 44 per cent - have to rely on informal arrangements, such as leaving their children with a granny or other relative or a friend. Nearly one-third are forced to use more than one type of childcare. Only 2 per cent have a workplace nursery.
The independent survey of 503 readers of Right Start magazine found that more than half of working mothers spent more than pound;50 per week on childcare, with a small but significant number spending more than pound;150.
Biddy Passmore
