Government must bring clarity to childcare provision

Despite the big announcement from the chancellor last week on childcare, there's little doubt that one of the key policy points in next year's election will still be the tricky issue of childcare. The UK has the most expensive childcare among other developed nations and the high cost of nursery or a childminder is clearly preventing many parents, mostly women, from returning to work. That's exactly why Jeremy Hunt announced his plans to extend the 30 hours of free childcare to children from nine months and up. The proposal is intended to stop childcare costs being a barrier to people ret...