I have a love-hate relationship with tax-free childcare.

I love (and need) the up to £2,000 a year per child that it gives me towards childcare – but I hate how complex and confusing it is to use.

I am one of the thousands of parents who has missed out on payments due to delays in processing applications via HMRC.

Shorts

In March, when I switched from a employed role to being self-employed, I checked I was still eligible.