Wrap around care for those who don't work??

WTC I think has been phased out in exchange for Universal Credit..

Which is a real PITA.

We don't get it (even though we could due to total income even though we both work). We just decided being poorer was better than having to navigate UC every month.

We have enough going on with DS who has SEND (SEND families will understand what I mean here in terms of fighting broken systems - groundhog day after day).. .

Of course children should be entitled to this. It isn't the kids' fault.
It's just a shame it's come to this. I also am baffled as to how a parent can't manage to feed their child breakfast every morning.
What a sad state of affairs.

You can absolutely go on a holiday and buy alcohol if you are on benefits, you are not a prisoner who can’t leave the country. The show you have watched was targeting people who were abusing the benefits system and claiming fraudulently I believe this is one of the reasons they introduced the benefit cap as well.

@Wonderi No mention of the kids’ father/s (brother? Brother-in law?) so we’ll have to assume he/they are not around for the OP to berate. She says its not the ‘nanny’ state’s job to raise these kids properly, looks like you’re up auntie @Raisinsandweetabix.

If it was on a case by case basis your SIL would still qualify so what is your issue exactly?

Now you’re just going on a rant about generic benefit fraud based on a now off-air channel 5 “documentary”.

And you know all the current details about your SIL’s life and finances but are estranged?

I think if you applied for UC or any benefit you'd be quite (pleasantly?) surprised as to just how difficult the DWP make your life.

There are no restrictions on what benefits are spent on.
I am on UC, and enjoy wine on occasion.
No one from DWP will be interested in that. No one.

It’s a bit sad Op that you can’t see how this would be so so beneficial to your SILs children - arguably they are the exact children who would benefit greatly and be protected by such wrap around care… put your own bitterness to the side. Surely you can see how much better your own children are regardless of wrap around care etc? They presumably have a lovely stable home life. It shows how insecure you feel that you are comparing apples and pears. No comparison between your children and hers’ by the sounds’ of it- thanks to your hard work and responsable parenting.

I work with a school that already provides a free breakfast and after school club. It's a lifeline to working families struggling to afford child care but is also used by quite a few families where one or both parents don't work. Some of these are parents with health problems or who are juggling caring for older relatives/other children with additional needs etc. Others are families where home life is chaotic and children don't always get breakfast or have somewhere relatively quiet to do homework/read a book etc. Regardless of who's fault this is, the children suffer as a result. Encouraging these families to send their children to school before/after school clubs is a way to provide these things for the child without damaging the relationship between the school and parents (which is beneficial for the child). The school reports that when children from chaotic homes (for whatever reason) are provided with breakfast, after school snacks, space to calm down before school, space to read etc they are much better behaved in class and make better progress. It also means the children are not hanging around the streets and vulnerable to other influences during that time (sadly in around this school County Lines gangs have been known to use primary school aged children). So it's not really about giving parents perks that they don't deserve, or letting them get away with poor parenting- it's about giving their children a better chance in life which benefits everyone in society.

I once worked on a school where every child was offered breakfast on arrival, at the start of the school day, in the classroom. It was a lovely way to start the day. There was such a difference in behaviour and concentration. It's not about parents and income. It's about ensuring all children start their school day on an equal footing without an empty stomach.

Where are these schools offering free after school clubs lol
We had free breakfast club but afterschool club cost £55 a month 3-6pm 5 days a week
Only working parents used it

I think you’re missing the very key point that it’s beneficial to the kids!!! It’s not really for the parents - that’s a secondary benefit! Many children don’t have access to particular activities/toys/social elements at home. Not to mention any food or nutrition that could be offered. I’m guessing you are in a bit of a dark place if your knee jerk reaction is that others’ are getting resources that you feel you deserve more. Once again- when it comes to welfare, healthcare and childrens’ development, A Race to the Bottom helps no-one.

If these resources were taken away, they wouldn’t suddenly become good parents.
It doesn’t work like that.

These measures are put in place to protect children as much as possible.

They do not create shit parents.
The parents are already shit.

Do not punish the children who already have poor lives, by taking away the very few services that help them.

I understand your frustration but your way of thinking is very wrong.

Where is her DH in all of this?

Yawn, now the OP has moved on to include people who may be committing benefit fraud.

It is the SIL! Where’s my prize

I suppose it would be more likely to be full.

Are you saying that the Government should make policy based on your SIL's behaviour and circumstances? Universal breakfast clubs will help your 'feckless' SIL so they should drop this manifesto pledge?

Well... I think what you're saying OP is that your SIL (why is it always the SIL?) had 6 kids and will be using 'wraparound' care for some / all of them. Meanwhile, she is organising some sort of charity ball, but you think she should get a job, but winder if job centres still exist. Is this right?

I don’t work (in the traditional sense), but I do use the breakfast and afternoon school clubs for my eldest. It means I can get my other high needs child who cannot attend more than set hours to his school on time. His school’s breakfast club has been free for a few years now, think the school was actively trying to encourage attendance by making it accessible to every student. After school costs me upwards of £100 (don’t worry @Raisinsandweetabix , UC don’t pay me extra for this), but again the school runs plenty of free clubs of various subjects during the week and the ‘poor teachers’ don’t seem to mind considering I’ve never seen a term go by without some sort of after school activity. Do you think school art or dance clubs should also only be accessed by the children of working parents, op?

I’m with you op, but that’s mainly because there are limited spaces at our wrap around and parents who receive it free are prioritised. Some days of the week all of the spaces have already been allocated to parents who don’t work and working parents don’t get a look in!

We have to juggle work to fit around the school day with one of us starting early and the other starting late to manage drop off/pick up. And yes, I was on the waiting list in July ready for September….

They’re free as they provide much needed food for those children whose cupboards may be bare, provide a warm space for longer for those children whose homes are cold and keep those children safe for a few hours longer when their guardians don’t protect them adequately

I say this as a parent who works full time, pays for holiday care and also pays for breakfast club as it provides routine/consistency for my DD. Even whilst paying for holiday care, I advocate for the council run holiday scheme to provide free childcare offering amazing experiences to children whose parents would otherwise not afford it and also give a much needed warm meal whilst they’re there.

Give over @Raisinsandweetabix the rest of us are juggling same/similar. As I said at the start, this is about you and your relationship with SIL. Everything else is fire and froth.

So do you want to live on that? It's about opportunities and food for the child to try and equalise their chances.