Money Box Live: The Childcare Challenge

The price of nursery can be more than a mortgage. In fact, to send a two-year-old to nursery for 50 hours a week, allowing you to work full time, can set you back more than £14,000 a year according to Coram the children's charity.

But, from April this year, working parents in England can claim 15 government funded hours for two year olds, instead of waiting for them to turn three to get help.

Applications for that support are now open - but there are concerns that not all parents will be be able to get their applications processed in time to use them. We've been investigating that, and what else is available to cut childcare costs for mums and dads.

We'll also hear from a nursery owner on the financial pressures of caring for children and talk about the costs of having school age kids.

Felicity Hannah is joined by Paul Rhodes from the Money and Pensions Service and Meghan Meek-O'Connor, senior policy adviser on child poverty at Save the Children UK.

Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Sarah Rogers Editor: Jess Quayle

(This episode was first broadcast on the 10th of January at 3pm on Radio 4).