This week, along with many working parents across the country, I’m feeling a sense of dread about my bank balance. The temporary free childcare lifeline has been yanked from us, with the industry moving back to its expensive former model yesterday. Over the past few months my hours have been temporarily reduced – and I already only work four days because of the cost of care – and that was only just manageable because I wasn’t paying childcare fees.  I know the move is a welcome relief for the childcare sector that’s been impacted by the hasty policy, but to think we can just go straight back to how things were pre-pandemic while we’re still in the middle of an economic crisis, is utter madness and totally short-sighted.