Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee

Recommendation 37

37

Review adequacy of childcare support for self-employed mothers, including tax deductibility and flexibility.

Recommendation
The Government should undertake a review of the adequacy of existing childcare support for self-employed mothers. That review should consider: the potential merits of making childcare a tax-deductible expense, if only 58 for an initial period; expanding free hours of childcare to include services, such as nannying, that can cover the period from 0–3 months, when most nurseries do not accept babies; how to encourage more flexible childcare services; and making support, such as tax relief or pension credits, available to encourage family members other than parents to undertake childcare and relieve some of the burden borne by the mother. (Recommendation, Paragraph 138) Financial education and enterprise skills
Government Response

A response document is linked to this report, dated 27 January 2026. Response attribution to this recommendation has not been verified. Read the response document ↗