My thoughts do the new childcare funding!

[midnightblue12]

So first of all my overall thoughts are that this is great! Hopefully so many parents will benifit and have a great weight lifted off their shoulders.
Admittedly my children are 3 and over (well almost!) so this doesn't apply so I haven't looked into the ins and outs of it all that much.
What I did initially think though was... I bet this is going to put so much more pressure on parents to return to full time work.
When I reduced my hours after having my eldest I had a world of pressure from my boss to put him in nursery so I could return full time. I couldn't afford it so he backed off... mainly though I didn't want him in full time day care, we both weren't ready.
I just feel like there's always an alternative motive atm.
Anyone else wondered what pressure may be put on parents from their employers now?

Well yes the budget is about getting people back into work so this will have even something they analysed. But please can people just be happy we are getting more childcare hours, it’s going to make such a difference to so many. I’m in a couple of parent WhatsApp groups who all have toddlers and babies and everyone is so happy.

I did say in my opening line that I think this so great....
But I was also just wondering what the flip side of it is.

I think my boss will ask but the answer will be no…same for when they start school I don’t want to increase my hours.

I think it's great as it increases flexibility and gives more options to families.

Well if people don't want to do it, they don't have to. My old job wouldn't let me do part time hours regardless of being able to afford childcare so that argument doesn't really stack for me.

If people feel pressure to return to work because a new choice has opened up, that's on them and other families shouldn't suffer as a result.

I don’t think it will put pressure on parents to return to work as I think it is utterly undeliverable. The sector has said they are concerned about how on earth it would work and are cross about the cut in the ratio. It sounds like the extra funding for 3-4s is a drop in the ocean and not enough for that offer to be sustainable. I’d love for it to happen- it won’t affect me as my youngest will be in school this year but the rising costs are making life very difficult for a lot of parents.