to think that if you're planning* on taking Child Benefit away...

[multivac]

...from vulnerable families who don't make use of their local Sure Start centre, you should probably start by not closing down all the Sure Start centres?

www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/oct/18/no-pre-school-no-child-benefit-tory-thinktank-says-in-report-on-poverty

*NB I realise this is not a proposed Tory policy, nor something that is ever likely to get past the 'think tank' stage. It is, however, a demonstration of Tory thinking.

What the actual fuck next?

I am so fed up of this government and their "think tanks" trying to dictate what we all do and how we should all live. Fair enough I think pre-school is a good idea but its up to the parent to decide and should not be a government decision or bribe.

I am sick of being told how to look after my own children, what to eat, what to drink, etc, etc, etc.

We need to make our own decisions.

Oh that's just fabulous! I couldn't get my toddler into preschool, because the funding was controlled by sure start who refused to sign it off unless I agreed to them coming to my home for a bloody good nosy chat. I refused on the basis that I'm more than capable of filling a form in on my own. It meant my son never got to access the two years funding though.

Here we go again. The Wonderful Tories targeting the vulnerable, and innocent children as well. That's a low blow even for them. They honestly must sit in a room and discuss. How can we fuck peoples lives up even more.
And yeah it would help if there were actually Sure Start groups to go it.
We can't go to ones that don't exist, Call me Dave!

Bright Blue sound like a spectacularly out of touch 'think tank' (can barely type such a wanky word). This sort of daft policy will only hurt children.

God, I hate the Tories .

Out sure start centre closed due to health and safety, I'd now have to get 2 buses to get to either of our closest centres, however our 2 year old funding letter came straight through to us we didn't have to deal with sure start...

Oh the Tories certainly will take away child benefit if they're in power long enough, make no mistake about that.

I am hating them more every day.

Well it's a think tank and not a policy.

My sister ran a sure start. They seem like a great idea but were just full of yummy mummy's doing baby yoga and struggled to attract who they were aimed at.

it is a think tank not government policy. Honestly the hysteria on here.
If you remember there was another 'think tank' who wanted to strip so-called pensioner 'perks' as the old would not remember who did it or would be dead anyway (by the time of the next election). Did anyone really believe that or was it ignored because it did not affect most MNetters.

Ffs!

I hate the way they took cb away from those parents who earn over a certain amount. When it was a universal benefit, no one batted an eyelid. Now, those who claim it can be lumped in with the 'benefit scroungers' and the classic line 'don't have kids if you can't afford them" can be used. Makes me sick.

They have corrected the article to say it isn't use of Sure Start centres, but the 30 hrs pre school education.

It's similar to how Nicky Morgan did that big thing about how every child should be a member of their local library blah blah (an admirable thing to promote, of course) while libraries are being closed left, right and centre.

I believe it's what George Orwell called doublethink in 1984 - holding two contradictory opinions at the same time.

Maybe the Tories would like all small boys to be sent to military boarding schools for state training and all little girls to be taught to have strong babies.

Like the ancient Spartans.

Michael Gove and his peers do value a classical education.

My MIL does this, has an idea and blames somebody else for it while she is floating it for opinion.

I always think this whenever I see crap like this.

mollie the OP stresses that she knows it's think tank thinking.

Anyway, I quite enjoy a bit of hysteria over the Tories.

Idiots.

The administration costs don't bear thinking about. For that reason alone, it is unspeakably stupid. Then there is the politics.

I didn't send mine to pre school (or have a nearby sure start), it wasn't what was best for my children. It was best for my neighbour though.
Sometimes what's right for 1 isn't right for another. The government shouldn't back you into that 'choice' by bribery.

So the post is now wrong because of the Guardian's correct then? The 30 hours free childcare which will apply to various forms of provision is not connected to a need for a Sure Start centre in the area.

Good Lord I'm glad mine are old enough not to have to do this.

We were eligible for 2 yr old hours but I wanted my child at home at 2 and didn't think the research showed any benefit for her (educated parents, stimulating interaction at home etc). TO think we'd have been blackmailed into it.

30 hours too?!?! My 3 year old loves pre-school but I love that its optional.

This is madness :(

We already start school so much younger than so many other places. To in efect make it compulsory to start school at 2/3 is so wrong.

if it is 'only think tank thinking' why bring it to everyone's attention and generate the hysteria which brings the nay-sayers out of the woodwork ?

Because we know that all providers are jumping for joy at the idea of 30hrs "free" childcare.

As I recall when my DC were of SureStart age, we weren't actually allowed to go to ours because we lived in the wrong postcode; families in our postcode were apparently better off and not in so much "need" as the postcodes that were allowed to go. It was completely ludicrous. So to this day I have never set foot in one. I wonder if that policy remains in place today and how that would be addressed?