To think that what's best for the children gets left out of the free childcare conversation

[Ilikepinacoladass]

I'm all for parents being able to get back to work if they want to, woman's career's not being put on hold, the economy doing well etc..

But I find it quite worrying that what's best for the children seems to not be mentioned at all in the reporting around the govt introducing more and more free childcare hours, or considered in the policy making to begin with..?

I thought the reason it was 15 free hrs originally, and term time only (as is still the case) was because the original aim was to ensure children have access to early education? So they are not turning up at school aged 5 having had no preschool etc as their parents couldn't afford it?

Not to enable parents to get back to work as soon as possible leaving their children in childcare?

Men do work in nurseries

Quite interesting that the vote is fairly evenly split on OP's question - 51% to 49% after almost 1000 votes. Reminds me of Brexit!

My sons keyworker is a man. He’s excellent at what he does but unfortunately far too many people would view him with suspicion so it’s no wonder few men work in caring roles such as childcare.

If i had child care years ago i would be all for it it does well mentally for the mother and the child learns independence and mixing with others of similar ages and have fun you can do well at home but works better having bit of space catching up at work and child is getting looked after

I do get your point , but times have moved on people can’t afford the luxury of having one person at home so the question of whether it’s better to have a parent at home just isn’t relevant now. What should be made sure is that nurseries etc are of a good enough standard for children

I think the hidden agenda here is the expectation of women on benefits to get back into work so they can't make living on benefits a lifestyle choice, as they'll be expected to use the free child care and get sanctioned if they don't. Thus reducing the benefits bill and no longer able to choose living on benefits as a lifestyle.

That is so sad. The presumption that they're safer in an institution and off the radar living at home. This may be true for some children but not the majority. My children aren't off the radar. Nor are they not learning. They're just based at home!

The reason some countries and governments invest heavily in (good quality) childcare is because it’s so beneficial in many ways:

1. It enables and incentivises both parents to work
2. it provides early education, socialisation opportunities for all children
3. It can be especially beneficial for deprived or poorer children, helping them catch up with their peers

So yes, I think children’s needs have been considered. I just hope the extra hours are going to be properly funded, easy to access and easily understandable for parents and childcare providers.

It's not an assumption
27% of children live in poverty.
49% are in single parent families

cpag.org.uk/child-poverty/child-poverty-facts-and-figures

Goodness let’s not open up a debate about whether a child going to nursery full time is in the child’s best interest or not - opening the flood gates to working mums vs non working mums again. That’s certainly not for the government to decide either, it’s very different for every family/child. The revised policy gives parents options. No one is forcing a parent to use the 30 hours if they don’t want to.
The increase in hours will undoubtedly result in moves towards closing the gender pay gap etc, there are wider implications- and so this does actually benefit our children too!

Definitely!

@AlBG precisely

Full time childcare for babies in day centres is still a relatively new phenomenon. In the future, will we be looking back and wondering "How on earth did people think that was ok? " Maybe, maybe not, but it's a question definitely worth asking.

@ort1gia

Totally agree with this. And it doesn't seem to be a question that gets asked at all.

@Ilikepinacoladass

Youre asking it.

Repeatedly and then not listening to any of the answers

We moved to a Scandinavian country when my daughter was 3 - she absolutely thrived in full time quality child centred preschool, enjoying indoor and outdoor time and met so many of her later class mates and learned so much. As a working mum I thrived even more I think - gone was the guilt of putting my child in full time child care, here it was the absolute norm and people believe it’s good for kids. Gone was the financial worry I literally paid under 10% of UK prices. I believe it was good for her and all the kids there, they start school at 6 here and that pre school environment is invaluable. Do anything the UK can do to move towards helping kids and parents seems good to me!

I'm thrilled this option has come in but I do agree that in most cases very young children should spend the majority of their time where possible with a parent.

I don't like this American style push one bit. I love the choice and wish I had had this option but it shouldn't become the sort of default without thinking.... Have baby automatically put them in nursery really young /they will be fine.
Think and consider long long and hard.

Why are you assuming that women do shit, low paid jobs?

You do realise women are less likely to be doing shit, low paid jobs if they don't spend a decade out of the workforce, right?

Accidentally tapped the wrong button.
YANBU is my answer.

I'm not religious but Money is the new god, it's not even hidden behind platitudes of financial stability any more.

Broken communities by

'get on your bike' Tebbit
Shrinking the social rental market
creating ridiculous costs of housing
Deregulation causing massive energy cost (etc)
And now spend as little time (& influence) on your kids as much as possible.

It should never have gotten to the point one FT average or living wage couldn't afford rental or morgage for a family home.

So your not wrong but I have no confidence anyone will put it right....sadly

@ort1gia i fail to see how this is relevant. The 30 hours are optional, no one is forcing anyone to use them. So what’s the downside? What am I missing? It seems a no brainier to me, it opens up options and relieves the financial childcare burden and if you don’t want to put your kid in nursery for those hours, then don’t?

‘shouldn't become the sort of default without thinking.... Have baby automatically put them in nursery really young /they will be fine.

Think and consider long long and hard.‘

Do you really think parents of a new baby don’t think long and hard about childcare options when they return to work? That’s all most parents focus on as maternity/shared parental leave draws to a close. How odd to think otherwise!

@57NewPosts well yes I know plenty that didn't really at all no.

Firstly they didn't even think about the quality of childcare or nursery at all.
And very little consideration about everything else because they didn't know and why would they.
Everyone at work who had a baby just went back at the set time, family and other friends did it was the norm.
Like a pp said about Sweden or somewhere no-one questions it.

@Vynalbob ok so your point actually relates to not thinking one parent should work and should instead look after the children.

‘Firstly they didn't even think about the quality of childcare or nursery at all.‘

I do not believe you.

@57newposts

Ummm OK, don't.

People often don't question much at all around them when they go through the motions.

I have a daughter in childcare 2 days a week, I work 3 days and only have 1 day covered, I have been part time since having my son as paying childcare whilst working full time was just pointless for me. She/we will benefit from these 15 hours from next April as she will turn 2 later this year, it means we will have to contribute a small amount each week but it will help us massively for the 8 months before she will be entitled to the 30 hours entitlement anyway, we weren’t expecting this but every bit helps.

Returning to work after having a child and having no choice but to make it work for a good couple of years before you’re money is your own again and to keep your job is pretty rubbish but we have to do it so surely this is a good thing? Children benefit from being with their peers and parents get to continue working instead of giving up their jobs.