The childcare is SOOOOOOOOO expensive that many women (especially when they have more than 1 child because childcare doubles, triples or even gets higher than that) choose to leave work to look after their children before they start school or even till they start senior school. NOT EVERYONE has got parents to help with childcare!!! So the privatenursery bill is HUGE! Minimum £850-£900 a month! Some women don't earn that when they work part time because they CHOOSE TO BE THEIR for the school run, school pick up. 15 hours the government gives for free childcare is NOT ENOUGH!!! Most part time working hours start from 24-30 hours a week + time to cover by childcare while mum is getting to and from work!!! That also takes often up to 2 hours a day! There should be free childcare for middle class families and low earners so the Mums CAN AFFORD to work if they want to! I worked FOR NOTHING! for 4 years because ALL MY SALARY in retail went on our son's nursery fees! WHAT WAS THE POINT FOR ME WORKING??? I WORKED FOR FREE JUST NOT TO LOOSE the job and have a job when he went to school in 4 years.