My childcare will rise from £400 to £1,600 when I return to work after maternity leave

Victoria Newton feels torn when it comes to returning to work after having her second baby.

Even though she would love to take more time with her new baby, she will have to return to her job in financial technology after six months when her company’s generous maternity leave runs out as she knows the UK’s statutory maternity leave will not cover the bills.

But due to the fact that funded childcare hours do not kick in until the term after a baby turns nine months, Victoria will face the cost of childcare rocketing from £400 for one child to almost £1,600 for two children for three days of nursery for the first four months of her return to work.

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“The statutory maternity leave in the UK is so appalling that so many women are being forced to choose between their career and being a stay-at-home mum,” she told The i Paper.