Mums' woe at snowballing childcare costs in Buckinghamshire (From Bucks Free Press)

Mums' woe at snowballing childcare costs in Buckinghamshire

3:52pm Friday 8th January 2010 in

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WORKING mums are counting the cost of the cold snap in Bucks as childminding fees build up along with the snow.

Some are forking out hundreds of pounds to have their children looked after while they are at work.

Dozens of schools in the county have shut due to the big freeze, and they could remain closed on Monday as well with more snow expected over the weekend (see link, bottom of story).

One mother who contacted the Bucks Free Press said: “As soon as we had this snow all the schools were closing. I have to put my kids in with childminders and it's costing me nearly £100 a day to come to work.

“We still have to make it in to work.”

Some childminders have said they are less busy due to the snow however.

One from Flackwell Heath, who asked not to be named, said: “I'm less busy because people can't get to me.

“When the snow came down just before Christmas I was meant to look after a little girl from Wooburn Moor but her father was worried about what it would be like at 5.30. You don't know what the weather's going to do later on.

“My children are at home as their schools are shut. It's just like Christmas.”

Linda Walshaw of Busy Living in Amersham said: “It's been relatively quiet. A lot of parents have been at home or working from home.

“After-school clubs aren't running. The whole thing is pretty chaotic really.”

Have you been affected by the snow? Have your say below.