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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not understand why those with lower income get free childcare even if they don't work

446 replies

PrincessScrumpy · 03/09/2013 13:47

2 mums from a toddler group I go to are on income support and their DC start their free 2 days a week at nursery at the age of 2. I have dd1 age 5, and dtds 2. We couldn't afford childcare for 2 babies so I had to cut my hours by more than half and work from home around dc which is hard but we wouldn't cover the bills if I didn't. obviously twins was a surprise and a huge financial hit so savings are very low/almost non existent.

Anyway, I have another year until my dtds get free childcare while a lady with one dc gets it at age 2 despite having no intention to work. This feels really unfair and I just don't get the reasoning.
I'm not trying to benefit bash but it's hard not to feel angry. Willing to accept iabu, but can't help feeling this way.

OP posts:
JoinYourPlayfellows · 03/09/2013 22:02

"IT IS NOT FREE CHILDCARE!"

It is indistinguishably from free childcare.

It's free.

It is childcare.

The fact that it is offered for other purposes doesn't change that.

People who can spot the similarity between two identical things aren't stupid.

hettienne · 03/09/2013 22:03

All children get 15 hours of early education from 3.
Disadvantaged children get 15 hours of early education from 2.

One extra year of education for disadvantaged children to help close the gap between disadvantaged and more advantaged children.

I really can't believe anyone would begrudge small children this Confused

Sirzy · 03/09/2013 22:04

But the op doesn't even know why this woman is getting the help. All she knows is that the mum has apparently told someone else it is to do with the benefits she is on. I wouldn't be surprised if the real situation was much more complex than that, but it's much easier to judge the situation based on gossip than consider perhaps they really need the support they are getting.

katese11 · 03/09/2013 22:04

*It is indistinguishably from free childcare.

It's free.

It is childcare.*

Thanks! I thought I was the only one who saw that...

ArbitraryUsername · 03/09/2013 22:05

The free childcare aspects of it are simply a byproduct. Same as when the children's centre offers a free crèche so people will attend parenting classes.

jessieagain · 03/09/2013 22:06

I haven't read the whole thread but I just wanted to say that people shouldn't really be speculating and then passing judegment on other people's lives and financial situations.

Do you really have the full facts about their situations? Hmm

My ds (2 years) goes to nursery 2 days a week and I don't work. People who don't know us might speculate that I'm a non working single parents as dp works away often.

But we actually pay for his nursery as he benefits from it socially (and I'm actually looking for work, although that process is a little slow at present Confused )

I think in cases like this it is best to mind your own business, do what you can to help your dc and try not to compare your situation with others.

ArbitraryUsername · 03/09/2013 22:06

Or are we going to start gnashing teeth because the feckless get free childcare so they can attend parenting classes too? Ooh, the luxury.

brdgrl · 03/09/2013 22:06
  1. It's not childcare.
  2. There is a mountain of verifiable scientific research to back up the idea of early childhood intervention - both the need for it and the effectiveness of it.
  3. Thinking that it would be nice if your child would qualify, so that you could have a bit more free time as a SAHM is not the same thing as your child being in need.
  4. People living on low incomes are not all the same. They are not scroungers, or lacking in 'diligence', nor are they all immigrants or irresponsible breeders. They are people living on low incomes. If you would prefer life on that side of the fence, it is surprisingly easy to attain, you know. Just apply yourself with a bit more diligence.
MrsDeVere · 03/09/2013 22:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

katese11 · 03/09/2013 22:07

OK, here's an alternate scenario and I'll try and separate this from my earlier posts (i.e. the whole crazy wanting to go to work thing).

What about children who have potential needs that are only picked up at nursery, which they start at 3? Because of the length of time these things take (assessments etc), it means they're starting school without a firm diagnosis and support. Would children like that have benefited from an earlier start in education?

Sirzy · 03/09/2013 22:09

Kate - the children who get this will have severe additional needs and in most cases that will be picked up younger.

It's not going to be available (yet) to all children with additional needs.

Salbertina · 03/09/2013 22:10

Yabu, their kids need it and can benefit hugely.

MrsDeVere · 03/09/2013 22:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ArbitraryUsername · 03/09/2013 22:11

You can get 'free childcare' if your child's SN are sufficient that you qualify for respite. It is childcare (in the sense that someone else looks after your kids for you) and it is free, so in this regard it is also indistinguishable from free childcare. Many people in this situation do not work (for a range of complex reasons) too.

Is this also unfair?

Xmasbaby11 · 03/09/2013 22:12

OP, I sympathise. I can't imagine how you cope with working at home around twins. I think the childcare costs in this country are shocking and it is hardest for people on a medium income who .

I don't think OP is annoyed with the family in question - just the system. Some people may feel they need help despite not being technically disadvantaged.

MrsDeVere · 03/09/2013 22:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LimitedEditionLady · 03/09/2013 22:13

Its not classed as free childcare!its not for the parents,its not with the intention of helping the parents it is to offer a child in a low income family access to education.Most children will have 9- 12 oclock places in a nursery.This time is for learning.Maybe people think that the only reason the parents take the kids to their free place is to offload their kids?Is that right?
I know a girl who got a place and it took an hour to get there and walk back home.She did it though,walked there and home and again at the end of three hours.Hardly a rest is it.

MissOtisRegretsMadam · 03/09/2013 22:14

Yes katese they can and do. By oct half term last year I had done 11 SALT referrals. We can also ask for a pre 5 assessment teacher to come and observe a child too if we have concerns.

LimitedEditionLady · 03/09/2013 22:15

Shouldnt hv pick up on SN if there are pointers to indicate it?If a parent doesnt notice anything then how will anyone else?

katese11 · 03/09/2013 22:16

Sirzy, you may have guessed that I'm talking about one of my dc here! (Again, separate from the working issue) He is being assessed for autism now, but because he wasn't in formal education till 3 and he's a summer baby (so only had 3 terms at preschool) it wasn't picked up until late on, and that means he's starting primary school without a diagnosis.

But he is a borderline case, so doesn't have severe additional needs. So, I'm guessing he wouldn't have had the extra time anyway from the info in your post (didn't realise before...tbh haven't thought about it that much. But this thread got me wondering) He was with a childminder back when I only had him and so could afford to go to work, but she wasn't an expert in SEN and so didn't pick it up.

Again, just a thought. I forget sometimes that MN isn't the ideal place to think out loud without fear of attack...

katese11 · 03/09/2013 22:16

Oh, and he had language delay but hvs etc assured me it was just because of the childminder using a 2nd language to him.

hazeyjane · 03/09/2013 22:17

Has had an initial assessment or an identified need for a planned programme of intensive intervention e.g. a life-threatening or life limiting illness to a child and/or significant developmental delay (child)

This is the qualifying criteria, in our area, wrt additional needs.

The child has to have significant delay this would be noticed before 2.

morethanpotatoprints · 03/09/2013 22:20

I was reading about this last night and found it absolutely disgusting the way the report made out that because families are on low incomes their children will fare worse than those with higher earnings. An example was given that at 2.5 a difference can be seen and that extra resources were to be given to those on lower income, eventually making it widespread for all 2.5 year olds.
It is also to include adopted and looked after children, I'm sure there was another group but didn't take too much notice as doesn't concern me.

LimitedEditionLady · 03/09/2013 22:20

My nephew went to nursery and they tried to say he had SEN when he didnt.Difficult isnt it.

MrsDeVere · 03/09/2013 22:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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