Is extending 30 hours childcare to parents on benefits fair?

[GimmieABreakOr3]

30 free hours of childcare to those in receipt of benefits is not fair.

Currently, the 30-hour childcare scheme requires parents to be in work to qualify. However, the UK Education Secretary has called for this to be extended to parents on benefits.

Many argue that those who are unemployed don’t need childcare. I agree. How is it fair that those of us in work are always propping up those who are not? It’s proper two tier Britain if you ask me when it comes to those in work compared to those who are unemployed and on welfare. I think Labour are ruining this country.

It’s just to make sure all children have equality of opportunity regardless of parental income.

Also poverty (alongside substance abuse and the presence of a step parent) are big factors for abuse. Obviously I don’t mean they cause people to abuse, and I know rich people can be abusive too, but statistically speaking there is a correlation. So if imagine they’re looking for a way for those children to be more visible too otherwise they won’t be properly on someone’s radar until the age of 5 when they have to start school.

This is a bit like people who kick off about free breakfasts for children and say the parents should be feeding them. Yeah they should, but not all do. Not all parents are raising their children with love and care. At least in nursery settings they are (hopefully) getting some of the things they need. In an ideal world this wouldn’t be the case but in reality it is. We have to try and give all children the best start in life.

I currently live in Belgium. Creches are subsidised according to income and then ALL children have access to free Kindergarten from 2.5 years. Not obligatory but has something like a 98% take up rate.

Why not? Expecting someone on £100k to fork out £25k a year on childcare when people not working get it for free seems just morally wrong to me.

I think it's a great idea. Statistics show that some children are better off in nursery and early years education can close the gap between a disadvantaged child and their peers.

It isn't meant to be childcare for the parents, it is to benefit the children.

How so?

If you don’t work, you don’t need childcare. Yet again, Labour party finding more ways to spend tax payers money unnecessarily. I am absolutely sick of them.

That’s levelling different playing fields though, isn’t it?

I didn’t get free childcare either, my son is too old to have benefitted.

But working parents now do get 30hrs, and pay for the hours they use outside of that. So they’re not out of pocket directly for the same 30hrs as somebody on benefits would receive?

I’m not going to get resentful that my older child happened to not qualify for 30hrs (or any hours) before his 3rd birthday, because he was born in 2016 and not last year?

How are parents meant to attend interviews and start work without childcare in place though? It's also thinking about the future - more tax paying citizens if the playing field was more level.

Why should the person paying the highest rates of tax not enjoy this specific benefit of it? A person on 100k with 4 kids could certainly do with the support to go back to work. No child should suffer due to the choices of their parents, right?

Edit: I had tagged the poster who mentioned those on 100k not needing 30 free hours. But that failed.

Nursery is so much more then childcare

Agree

Because it is awfully tough working a stressful job (which lets face it a 100k jobs is going to be.) and having small children. When I went back to work I had to express milk first thing in the morning at 5am, get my kids to nursery then commute a long hour to work. I was knackered and exhausted and was ill for much of the period. They also didn’t sleep through until they were at least 3. I had to express in the toilets at work and when I got home. I did it becuase it was impeotant to me to provide for my children and keep my career going as long term it would have suffered if I took an extended break. . At one point I had 2 in nursery and every penny of my salary went on childcare. Not a single penny left so I was utterly demoralised very day. So yes I think it is unfair that I had to go though all that and someone not working gets it for free. It would have been so helpful for us to have saved that money at that time.

Agree. It’s bloody ridiculous

Life isn't fair and sadly never can be. Those on low incomes usually have had plenty of bad luck and those earning over £100,000 usually have had a run of good luck. You've said yourself you have oodles of support from family and friends (priviledge). Now you are having a tantrum because someone has something you do not have.

I'm fine with it if it's also extended to the children of London bankers on £100k+, it's lovely to have a commitment to universal early years education isn't it? Right?

I agree- the people paying for these places can’t accesss them!

Not all parents are raising their children with love and care

I think that’s a serious childcare problem and not one that can be solved with nurseries and breakfasts

I did all of that too, I know it's tough but it isn't a race to the bottom. Why wouldn't people want children to thrive and be able to attain at the rate more privileged people are able to? Why should a parents bad luck/life choices be the undoing of an innocent child? It's also going to be positive for the economy in the long run as you'll have more tax paying citizens, parents will be able to find employment and their children will attain more and hopefully contribute to the future economy.

Agree so you are for universal childcare after all? Good for everyone! Every child can thrive

The tantrum is because we're FUNDING something someone else has that we don't have.

Well said
It’s utter madness and not cost effective tax wise

No, people earning over 100k don't need free childcare. Under 100k absolutely fill your boots.

What is with the magic £100k ? Why that amount specifically? Someone in hull earning £100k would be very wealthy. In London that barely covers a 2 bed flat.