Sophie's mother looks after her four-year-old daughter, Karen, for the two days she is away, but is also caring for her husband, who is suffering from cancer. Sophie, too, is trying to spend more time with her father.
She says, 'This obviously puts a great deal of stress on my mother, but this is the best way that I can see - the only other way would be for me to go on full-time benefits. I have to keep my job, there is no choice.'
She has sent Karen to nursery school since last September and receives nursery education grant, but says it is an 'unwieldy, inflexible system' as she has to apply well in advance to get money for more sessions. 'You have to fill out yet another application form stating how many extra hours you want and you are never sure how much money you are going to get.
'Means-tested benefits from the Government make it very difficult to change your circumstances because you are terrifed of having them reduced. I can understand why people just stay on benefits, because at least you know what's coming in.'
