Car sharing, avoiding luxury purchases and making appointments with bank managers are all actions that childcare practitioners are taking to stave off financial hardship during the current economic downturn. 'We know that the credit crunch is already having an effect on our staff. Despite being on low wages many have mortgages with their partners and it is getting difficult for them,' says Linda Findon, chair of Cygnets Education and Childcare Trust in Stratford-upon-Avon. 'In response, we had quite...