My youngest is in year 6 so I am feeling reflective.
I've seen people on here and in real life suggest that people "just get a job as a teaching assistant" as a childcare solution.
There is no such thing as just a teaching assistant. The teaching assistants and learning support assistants at my dc primary and secondary schools are super heroes.
There are 3 TA's at my dc primary school who have been there since the 1980's. One retired but missed it so much she came back and volunteers now. They remember every child who has been through the school and they always want to know how my older ones are getting on.
There is the TA who takes the most difficult children out in small groups once a week which is my youngest child's favourite time.
There are several class TA's who are trying to do 1-1 for children who need 1-1 but don't qualify and also trying to help the other children too.
In my dc secondary school the support staff are like ninjas, trying to support 2 or more children who need 1-1 but only have enough funding for part time 1-1. These children often have different needs so they are scribing for one child and trying to stop another child escaping. Then there is the endless paperwork trying to get more funding, referrals for assessment etc.
There seem to be so many children who need support but don't qualify for funding. Children who need specialist school who are in mainstream and children who need more support than their funding allows.
I just think that teaching assistants are doing an amazing job for very little pay and often not a lot of recognition either.