To not understand why Rishi Sunak shelving the 'childcare reform plans' as a bad thing

[Mummyof287]

Firstly because increasing the ratios would be unsafe and unkind for children, and and unfair for childcare practitioners.
(I used to be one)

Secondly because '20 more hours free childcare' would basically be the government pushing/encouraging parents to prioritise working before their children, and to be more likely to send them to daycare for longer than is emotionally healthy to be apart from their families at such a young age.

So why is it being seen as a bad move? Or is that just the media's viewpoint 🤨

YABU because perhaps the childcare reforms need to be more than just about ratios or hours but accessibility and affordability. And it may shine a greater light on inflexible work and low paid hours.

the UK is far far behind what could be done about childcare.

I certainly don't think alot of couples nowadays can afford for one parent not to work at all...I think most can afford for one parent to work part time, if they are willing to cut out 'extras' to prioritise working less and being at home with the DCs more.

Based on?

Please tell me how, because we certainly can't.

This is what children’s centres were for. Sadly, while early education is considered ‘childcare’ a job that most people consider to be something anyone can do, there won’t be the funding to pay for the highly skilled people we actually need. You said you found it hard to look after your twins. That’s because being with young children is an extremely hard job. It needs a genuine skill to do well. To understand attachment, brain development, sensitive periods and so on. Done well we could genuinely change society. The word childcare needs to be banned from EY education. It’s ruinous for the sector. No one wants to be called a ‘childcare worker’. Especially not highly trained EY teachers, Montessori teachers etc who are the people we need. From birth.

Surely parents who believe that longer hours in nursery are unhealthy for their child do not have to use extra funding?
Lots of children all over the world are at nursery full time and they are absolutely fine and happy.
You must also speak from either very privileged position or be a little narrow minded. I personally believe that me not being able to afford days out, visit our family or buy healthy food because I don't have enough money due to childcare cost is not good for my child.
I also strongly believe that my inability to work full time will impact my future earnings and chance of saving for my child's future education or eventually buying own house etc.
Being underemployed is a huge risk for stability and financial safety. I have been in this situation before as a single parent and never want me or my children to experience that again.

So as you see it's not as black and white and everyone's priorities are different depending on their own life situations. It does not make them right or wrong and its important people (women) have choices!

I think I've not been clear. Sorry. I'm not saying that children don't do well in nursery at all. I'm saying that children need to be in AMAZING nurseries! They proof is there that nurseries can be future-changing (in a good way) for a lot of children. The caveat is that they MUST be good. So the government not subsidising them with an amount to make them affordable is really wrong. I'm very pro early years education. I'm very anti the term 'childcare' because it's derogatory to those that teach small children (a very particular skill), and actually to the children themselves. They're capable of so much at that age, and a lot more competent than they're given credit for! They need to be with well-qualified and knowledgeable staff.

Or actually maybe you weren't replying to me, now I've read it back!!

Like many things it’s not optimal but it’s unlikely to cause any actual harm particularly if time with kids is prioritised when parents are with them. The idea if someone is a SAHP they will always be spending all their day engaged with their kids is also a bit unrealistic. Certainly my kids who went to nursery for 4 10.5 hour days were screen free for massively longer than a lot of their peers and things like their communication, numeracy, fine motor skills, problem solving, ability to share, dress themselves, manage toileting independently and to follow instructions in a group were all ahead of those who didn’t go to nursery when they started school. On the other hand I do think my eldest sometimes struggles with confidence and she can need lots of reassurance. All these things might be to do with having been in childcare or then again they might be coincidence. It’s definitely not as straightforward as SAHP = good and nursery = bad though

To keep women in their place - just