大象传媒

The announcement of a national lockdown has left many working parents with a repeat headache of trying to balance work and childscare.

Hours before the latest national lockdown was announced by the Prime Minister, the umbrella body for UK trade unions had urged employers to furlough affected parents.

With schools and colleges moving to remote learning until at least the February half term - except for the children of key workers and vulnerable children - the dilemma facing parents and guardians is once more in sharp focus.

Jodie Pracy is a part-time worker from Gillingham, north Dorset - she's worked at a factory for six and a half years, but she is also has a seven year old daughter who has an elder sister with special needs.

Jodie cannot work from home, and she can't go to work due to her childcare responsibilities, but she's not entitled to go back on furlough. She told 大象传媒 Radio Solent the situation is worrying, and it was more manageable during the first national lockdown.