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Original poster

How would you tackle child poverty and improve outcomes?

340 replies

Cindyyyy · 01/10/2025 10:09

I would back:

  • free basic school meals for all from 3 (extras can be paid for) of healthy, veg-based, minimally-processed meals
  • investment into school-based pre-school, to be free for all from age 3
  • increase school funding massively, pay rises for teachers and nursery staff, investment and subsidies into training
  • increase number of SEN schools and in-school SEN provision, as well as PRUs
  • subsidised holiday clubs for all parents working full time
  • extend SureStart, increase reviews by health visitors. If a child isn’t meeting milestones, earlier intervention and increased checks
  • expand apprenticeships

You?

OP posts:
Stoneblock · 01/10/2025 12:47

WoodenBoat80 · 01/10/2025 12:44

I’d also change the rules around social housing. I think it’s disgraceful that my husband’s parents live in a four bedroom council house, Sevenoaks, £390 per month. The house down the road is a private rent, husband and wife, one child, 2 bed house .. £1800 per month. I’d also get rid of right to buy.
I don’t think slashing benefits would hurt anyone but the children but things need to change. For example if you have a family who is claiming to not be able to afford the basics for their children yet they smoke 20 fags a day they should be investigated for neglect.

Rather than given support to quit? What happens to the children after the parents are judged to be neglectful? The care system really doesn't bring children out of poverty, it does exactly the opposite.

LadyKenya · 01/10/2025 12:46

caringcarer · 01/10/2025 10:51

I might have known someone would push the blame on to private Landlords. There is not enough council housing to accommodate the people already in this country, but we have hundreds coming across the channel most days.

Show quote history

🥱 I might have known that someone would come along, and try to blame other people, who have nothing at all to do with the fact that several Governments have know about the housing issues, and have not done any real, meaningful thing, to address those issues. Section 21 anybody?

WoodenBoat80 · 01/10/2025 12:44

I’d also change the rules around social housing. I think it’s disgraceful that my husband’s parents live in a four bedroom council house, Sevenoaks, £390 per month. The house down the road is a private rent, husband and wife, one child, 2 bed house .. £1800 per month. I’d also get rid of right to buy.
I don’t think slashing benefits would hurt anyone but the children but things need to change. For example if you have a family who is claiming to not be able to afford the basics for their children yet they smoke 20 fags a day they should be investigated for neglect.

Stoneblock · 01/10/2025 12:40

I've spent a lot of time working with children in poverty and my honest opinion is that you're barking completely up the wrong tree in your points, except Sure Start which made a real difference until it was mostly scrapped under austerity.

Universal fsm and childcare is very expensive and mostly benefits people who aren't in poverty.

Imo the things that would make the most difference (also very expensive).

  • proper social housing and scrap right to buy to protect it for future generations.
  • proper care for adults with addiction and other MH issues.
  • Very early helpful support (not judgement or penalties) at the first sign that a family is struggling.
Maverickess · 01/10/2025 12:32

Cindyyyy · 01/10/2025 10:27

If all children are entitled to be at school for free from 3, and fed there, including during holidays and wraparound care, parents would have 30-40hrs a week to earn an income.

If they refuse to work or to provide for their children, they’re not fit to be parents.

Show quote history

Ensure that the 30-40 hours a week are actually paid at a rate people can do more than barely survive on, and not needing top ups while businesses expand and make profits, because the tax payer fills the gap.

I mean removing or reducing benefits is a great way to force people into the low paid roles we all use and want while businesses carry on as they are without it affecting their bottom line.

And while I'm at it government funded things shouldn't be profit making opportunities. Care homes, healthcare, housing should all have what they put in spent on what it's supposed to be and not some creamed off for profit.

Original poster
Cindyyyy · 01/10/2025 11:23

caringcarer · 01/10/2025 10:51

I might have known someone would push the blame on to private Landlords. There is not enough council housing to accommodate the people already in this country, but we have hundreds coming across the channel most days.

Show quote history

I don’t have a stake in the game on private landlords but I know it’s far less profitable than it was even five or ten years ago.

I do think there needs to be an increase in building council properties though, but cheap to run blocks of flats, not sprawling executive housing estates with five bedrooms and big gardens. Council housing should be for those in need of housing.

OP posts:
caringcarer · 01/10/2025 10:51

Allthatshines1992 · 01/10/2025 10:10

Ban private landlords. Make all the rented housing council only and have lots of it so as to prevent overcrowding and get children out of HMO's. People would still be able to own and purchase their own homes.

Edited
Show quote history

I might have known someone would push the blame on to private Landlords. There is not enough council housing to accommodate the people already in this country, but we have hundreds coming across the channel most days.

Original poster
Cindyyyy · 01/10/2025 10:47

minipie · 01/10/2025 10:44

Increase and enforce maintenance payments.

I’d make 50/50 the expectation in the case of a split. If children have free wraparound and school holiday care, there’s far fewer excuses for abandoning children.

If you have children and you split, both households will be worse off because both need to separately provide for their children. That should be anticipated and obvious, not that one parent will be paid for by the state instead.

OP posts:
minipie · 01/10/2025 10:44

Increase and enforce maintenance payments.

RedPony1 · 01/10/2025 10:39

Allthatshines1992 · 01/10/2025 10:10

Ban private landlords. Make all the rented housing council only and have lots of it so as to prevent overcrowding and get children out of HMO's. People would still be able to own and purchase their own homes.

Edited
Show quote history

What?? I'll never own a house, but i also don't need cheaper rent of a house owned by the state. I'm happy with my private landlord situations and get freedom of choice of houses and areas.

I'd just be taking up a cheaper council house i don't need that someone else could be in!

Original poster
Cindyyyy · 01/10/2025 10:27

Allthatshines1992 · 01/10/2025 10:24

This would increase poverty and many children would subsequently suffer.

Show quote history

If all children are entitled to be at school for free from 3, and fed there, including during holidays and wraparound care, parents would have 30-40hrs a week to earn an income.

If they refuse to work or to provide for their children, they’re not fit to be parents.

OP posts:
Allthatshines1992 · 01/10/2025 10:24

Ablondiebutagoody · 01/10/2025 10:22

Slash welfare to encourage people to work for a living and improve their own lives, rather than generations languishing on benefits.

This would increase poverty and many children would subsequently suffer.

Ablondiebutagoody · 01/10/2025 10:22

Slash welfare to encourage people to work for a living and improve their own lives, rather than generations languishing on benefits.

Original poster
Cindyyyy · 01/10/2025 10:15

Allthatshines1992 · 01/10/2025 10:10

Ban private landlords. Make all the rented housing council only and have lots of it so as to prevent overcrowding and get children out of HMO's. People would still be able to own and purchase their own homes.

Edited
Show quote history

I don’t think the government could ever afford this, but I’d ban Right to Buy immediately and enforce five-year reviews of all council and housing association tenancies.

People should be housed according to need, or paying market rates.

OP posts:
Allthatshines1992 · 01/10/2025 10:10

Cindyyyy · 01/10/2025 10:09

I would back:

  • free basic school meals for all from 3 (extras can be paid for) of healthy, veg-based, minimally-processed meals
  • investment into school-based pre-school, to be free for all from age 3
  • increase school funding massively, pay rises for teachers and nursery staff, investment and subsidies into training
  • increase number of SEN schools and in-school SEN provision, as well as PRUs
  • subsidised holiday clubs for all parents working full time
  • extend SureStart, increase reviews by health visitors. If a child isn’t meeting milestones, earlier intervention and increased checks
  • expand apprenticeships

You?

Ban private landlords. Make all the rented housing council only and have lots of it so as to prevent overcrowding and get children out of HMO's. People would still be able to own and purchase their own homes.