The childcare battleground

The coalition wants to remove blockages to people returning to work, and one of the most complex problems is the cost of childcare. The Observer covers a report due out this week by the Resolution Foundation, which claims that it is barely worthwhile for a second earner in a family to work full-time because of the high cost of childcare.

But though ministers from both parties agree that the costs of nursery care and childminders are a problem for parents who want to start work, or increase their working hours – and have set up a commission on childcare to investigate this issue – the solution may not be one that the coalition finds easy to agree on. New early years minister Liz Truss’ views on deregulating the sector are well-known: she believes that there is far too much box-ticking and regulation which is putting off professionals from entering and remaining in the sector.