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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Parents of university age children never got ANY free childcare

378 replies

Cliff1975 · 15/03/2023 08:05

Whilst it is great that the government has finally realised that free childcare is needed those of us with university age children did not benefit from this and we are now supporting them through uni at great expense. Maybe once these kids who are getting free childcare get to uni that will be free too? Just can't help feeling that we are missing out from all angles?

OP posts:
prescribingmum · 15/03/2023 08:43

What about all the things you did benefit from that are now unaffordable or since removed for the next generation?! Affordable housing being the biggest.

If I were the parent of a university aged child, I would be delighted this was being considered, not just because it benefits society (which is enough of a reason in itself) but also because my children will directly benefit in the next 10 years and it’s clear they are going to need all the help possible to get onto the housing ladder and afford starting a family.

Genuinely cannot see any reason you have to get worked up given how much more your generation has benefited than those with young families now

Original poster
Cliff1975 · 15/03/2023 08:43

I am all for progress, social mobility and helping people to progress. However, universities are waking up and supporting those from low income backgrounds well. Those in the middle are now the worse off students.

OP posts:
Starflecked · 15/03/2023 08:44

Cliff1975 · 15/03/2023 08:43

I am all for progress, social mobility and helping people to progress. However, universities are waking up and supporting those from low income backgrounds well. Those in the middle are now the worse off students.

Evidently you aren't all up for progress though. I look forward to you campaigning for fairer funding for unis if you feel strongly about it. Not sure what it is to do with childcare though which is going to help many families and especially women.

Pinkdelight3 · 15/03/2023 08:44

I didn't get free childcare but I got a student grant and no student loans. You can't pretend things haven't got harder of late.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 15/03/2023 08:46

This government are only doing this to benefit their precious economy that they have managed to utterly fuck up.

All education should be free. It’s a right not a privilege. Britain has the most expensive childcare AND the most expensive university education in the world. And people on here are bickering about house prices and benefits. Look at the bigger picture. Both ends of education are hideously expensive.

l don’t know how to fund it, but it should be free. I think it’s appalling that medicine, nursing , teaching and dentistry are subject to student loans. They should be free courses.

lapasion · 15/03/2023 08:46

Can’t be bitter about it. I have a four year old so the memory of paying £1k a month nursery fees is very fresh in my mind. But do I begrudge people who won’t have those expenses? No.

LiftyLift · 15/03/2023 08:47

Cliff1975 · 15/03/2023 08:43

I am all for progress, social mobility and helping people to progress. However, universities are waking up and supporting those from low income backgrounds well. Those in the middle are now the worse off students.

You can’t say you want progress and then begrudge anyone getting something that you haven’t had. Your DC at uni are presumably choosing to go and can work. It’s very different from parents of young children working and benefiting from some funded childcare.

AnneLovesGilbert · 15/03/2023 08:47

DH got a grant to go to uni, I left with loans. Several of our friends bought under stamp duty holidays, I’ve never timed it right. Interest rates were lower, our mortgage is about to go up £300 as they’re rising. We don’t get child benefit as it’s no longer universal.

You can stamp your foot and say waaaah or be pleased for other people when some rare few things improve.

Spacie · 15/03/2023 08:47

Nursery vouchers for 15 hours were introduced (by the Tories) when DS1 was in his last term at Playgroup. He is now 30 so that was 1997. When labour got it it was changed to a grant directly to the provider but only from the term after their 4th birthday so my summer born DD got nothing before she went into reception. This was the same for my youngest. I don't know when 3 year olds started to qualify.

fairypeasant · 15/03/2023 08:48

And my great grandparents nearly starved.

Why shouldn't things get better for the next generation? Stop with the woe is me.

Flyinggeesei234 · 15/03/2023 08:48

AuntieStella · 15/03/2023 08:15

Yes, because it was called the ELG, and billed as an Early Learning Grant and therefore universal. But based in preschools and nurseries

But the 15 hour entitlement existed - I have university age DC and received it.

Me too. My child at uni (yr 2) got 15 hours’ free childcare which started during their time at nursery.

JobSeekingMissile · 15/03/2023 08:49

YABU and I have have kids in that age group. Childcare back then was significantly cheaper in comparison to pay, especially if you had enough that you weren't entitled to tax credits. On top of that bills were much cheaper.
The disparity between pay & cost of living is the issue. I struggled with school dinner money sometimes with my kids and now my DNs are at primary dinners are free, typical of my luck but so be it.

Albiboba · 15/03/2023 08:49

Cliff1975 · 15/03/2023 08:43

I am all for progress, social mobility and helping people to progress. However, universities are waking up and supporting those from low income backgrounds well. Those in the middle are now the worse off students.

Your child has the benefit of a supportive family who can financially support him too. He’s not ‘worse off’.

Get over this woe is me attitude.

x2boys · 15/03/2023 08:49

Cliff1975 · 15/03/2023 08:43

I am all for progress, social mobility and helping people to progress. However, universities are waking up and supporting those from low income backgrounds well. Those in the middle are now the worse off students.

Hasn't that always been the case ?
My sister did a teaching degree in the early 90,s she'd had no tuition ,feed but as my parents earned to much they had to pay her living costs as she had no.Grant she alsi.had to.get jobs in the summer holidays to.helo.support herself the students from lower income homes for full.grants
much fewer students went to.university back.in the day that's why they had grants and no tuition fees.

Anotherturnipforthebooks · 15/03/2023 08:50

For anyone who isn't aware of how the free hours systems works - most parents will still be paying quite a lot on top of this if they need year-round childcare.

We get 30 hours for our 4 year old and are still paying £900 a month for 4 days a week.

premicrois · 15/03/2023 08:50

Mine got 15 hours in the school nursery when they were 3 until 5 when they went to school. I considered that to be a lot back then! Not one of them is at uni and we are in Scotland, so free!

Not bragging btw just showing that we were enormous all as hard done by as you think OP. Im glad things are progressing to help parents with childcare more, the job market isn't the same as it was back then and changes are needed.

PlimplePlop · 15/03/2023 08:50

Cliff1975 · 15/03/2023 08:38

I have never had tax credits and now because my husband earns over the threshold, even though I am nowhere near and work in the public sector we get no child benefit.

I would reframe this as 'we were lucky enough to never need child tax credits as my husband earned a decent wage '.

premicrois · 15/03/2023 08:51

NOW one of them is at uni Blush

VivaciousRadish · 15/03/2023 08:51

My 24 year old had 15 hours free

premicrois · 15/03/2023 08:51

Enormous = not

(I have no idea what is going on)

quietnightmare · 15/03/2023 08:52

🙄
Those with young children now who have missed this or are in different parts of the UK and don't have affordable housing now that really is a kick in the teeth but it is what it is

Also funding universities is a choice, your adult child could do this weir thing can get a job to support themselves even in full time you I and or with placements

JennyForeigner · 15/03/2023 08:53

We have a three year old and baby twins and will have spent literally half of the cost of our house on childcare by the time the twins become eligible for funded hours under the current system - in September 2024, when any new entitlement will kick in.

We can still welcome it.

Nearlyamumoftwo · 15/03/2023 08:53

Sorry, what on earth are you talking about? Out of interest, how much did you and/or your peers pay for university education?

Are you going to be cross with the government because your friend renewed her mortgage t a different time to you, and therefore got a better rate?

I don’t actually think this proposed scheme is good news at all, but if we ignore that and just look at the headlines (which is all one can do without no one knowing details) it will allow more children to thrive, and will put more adults in work.. both outcomes here benefit you.

Supersimkin2 · 15/03/2023 08:53

Way back when, both parents didn’t need to work full time to feed the kids. That’s what changed.

We work much harder for much less today.

unclebuck · 15/03/2023 08:53

My nana was born when there was no NHS. 11 of her siblings died. Shall we all loose that too?