To think the level of state involvement many posters expect is bonkers?

[FaeryRing]

It seems like there is nothing the state shouldn’t be responsible for any more! Feeding your kids, getting them to school, hiring ‘behaviour specialists’ for every classroom because parents don’t want to discipline their own children, giving you money towards virtually anything you ask for because it’s not fair you have to pay for anything yourself.. I find it absolutely wild and don’t think it’s at all realistic or representative of what most adults believe?

Oh come on - I would disagree with that absolutely. It’s basically medical yes, which is why medical insurance covers most dental procedures.

and even if not, expecting teachers to pick up the slack on basic shit like that is embarrassing.

There was Supplementary Benefit too, for people on low incomes. And Family Income Supplement.

She isn't really in the right frame of mind to do that right now to be honest. She pays £5 a month. I just hope that when he gets out of prison he becomes responsible for his own debt. Even the dwp said it was unfair, but the rules.

At least he is not in her life anymore. I really hope things get better for her.

Would the toothbrushing school sessions need to everyday? I'm tired and probably being stupid and missing something but what about a one off school dental visit, perhaps with a follow up 6 months or a year later.

Dentist comes to school, does one class lesson on how to brush properly, then hands out a starter pack to take home (toothbrush, toothpaste, daily sticker chart or similar, to encourage the child to brush regularly).

When I was at primary school, we had someone come in once. I remember us all taking dissolving tablets that turned any plaque on the teeth pink. (I'd been taught to brush at home but I don't see the harm in a one off visit, to help kids whose parents for whatever reason haven't taught them at home).

@ChishiyaBat I'm sorry for your daughter's situation (and your granddaughter). It's very unfair and I hope the rules change. She's the victim in this situation and shouldn't be liable for his debt xx

Same - all the best @ChishiyaBat

No you come on

Self care is personal development.

Regardless whether you accept the terminology, the pp above who said you just incorporate it as a daily activity for the class after lunch, everyone does it, not just the ones that need help. This is actually what happened at my school. The point is to catch the few that have been embarrassingly (agreed) failed by their parents.

I don't think there being such a simple backstop would encourage more hands off parenting, it would just help catch a few furry green teethed kids.

Also I meant it as much as an example of things that a government or authority can be involved in without overstepping. That opinion doesn't mean I think you specifically should spend the whole day with your hand in a kids mouth

started by Labour, introduced an effective subsidy for companies to pay workers lower wages

JenniferBooth · Yesterday 21:28
@Againname I was signing on in the 90s just before minimum wage came in and there were jobs paying £50 a WEEK. My rent then was £48 a week for a one bedroom flat. Nothing else available. If i had had a job paying that i would have had £2 left to pay for everything else except rent. No top up because "you dont have kids

A hell of a lot of gaslighting and rewriting of history going on here when the low wages were already there beforehand.
@usernamealreadytaken Going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you are too young to remember the Low Pay Unit or the abolition of it in the EARLY 90s which lead to the low pay (particularly for those without children) before working tax credit came in.

@JenniferBooth It's very important kids are supported as they don't choose to be born but it's also very wrong imo to penalise childfree and childless people. They deserve enough money to live on and decent homes too. It isn't even a choice for some people (a friend and her DH are struggling right now with fertility treatments and it's very tough on them) and even when it's a choice childfree people pay tax too.

Me too he really was a piece of work! Thank you so much❤️i'm really proud of the woman she has become and she is a fantastic Mam to my beautiful Granddaughter

Thank you @Againname And @Giraffesandbottoms ❤️

I remember a dentist coming into our school in the early seventies to check all children's teeth. A lot of things did used to happen that no longer happen.
In the very deprived areas in the early seventies, buses with mobile showers used to visit schools for the children who were dirty.

In terms of single mothers, there was a lot of stigma and not much community help. But there were benefits.

I feel aggrieved when I know of HR managers in Labour run councils receiving over100k ten years ago! Who knows what that amount is now.
Councils are lining their own pockets and claiming they cannot afford basic provision. Corruption and nepotism is a huge problem within LA and government.

I wish I could believe in any official office to do the right thing needed to sort the country out…increasing taxation will just get lost in a black hole. This country is a mess and nobody is willing to make difficult decisions. Career politics in full play.

I do not want the state to take on more things they can then mismanage. I’d prefer less state interference.

I feel aggrieved when I know of HR managers in Conservative run councils receiving over100k ten years ago! Who knows what that amount is now.
Conservative councils are lining their own pockets and claiming they cannot afford basic provision. Corruption and nepotism is a huge problem within Conservative LA and government.

This is a tired and frankly offensive trope, the feckless, wanton, cunning woman.

It's the disgusting 'welfare queen' language of Ronald Reagan.

Med insurance never covers dental, its always an add on, a very expensive add on.

You don't seem have any clue as to the alternative to schools adding in dental care lessons do you?

they pay significantly more tax already. That’s fine. They shouldn’t pay more than they do, because they will leave and then people will really be fucked

Sunak pays a total of 22% on his PAYE PM salary and his USA investment earnings.

Anyone paying CGT on investment income is NOT paying significantly more tax and our CGT rates are super low.

Where is the CEO of Tesco going to go? that almost 5m of shares will only attract CGT on the gain & no tax so long as he keeps them for 5 years... not bad is it?

Tesco's annual report showed chief executive Ken Murphy was paid £9.93m in the year to February 24 2024, up from £4.44m in 2022/23. The package was made up of fixed pay of £1.64m, an annual bonus of £3.38m and a Performance Share Plan (PSP) payout of £4.91m

I agree parents who don't get their kids to brush their teeth are neglectful a holes but it's not the kids fault and would it really be so hard for teachers to give the occasional tooth brushing lesson maybe give some toothbrushes to the kids who parents can't afford/would rather spend the money on heroin. I mean come on you can get a whole pack of toothbrushes for a £1.

Save some poor kid from having rotten painful teeth. I mean come on there's already lessons on "LGBT" and "white privilege" don't tell me the occasional tooth brushing lesson is a waste of time

@Leah5678
Yes it is a lot to ask of a teacher. There was a Radio 4 discussion last week about the impossible task of recruiting and retaining teachers. So many end up leaving when they realise they could opt for a cosy WFH job where they could go to the loo whenever they want.
I wouldn't want to start insisting that teachers just squeeze another responsibility into their working day. It is absolutely not fair and counter productive.
It sounds so othering, somebody else, government, nhs, social services have to provide out of non existent budgets, random things for feckless people.

However @Leah5678
Do buy a load of toothbrushes yourself, train as an oral specialist, pay for yourself to be DBS cleared and volunteer at your local primary school.

A timely email came in today:
https://your.londoncouncils.gov.uk/cr/AQisyAMQodXzBhiLlOB0lKTf0b5Un4pXavJAJq-oduAK06ITKCKjqAhwmZrQS6w

Teachers have enough to do. And it wouldn't stop at teeth brushing lessons because if you go down that road, then how to wipe your bum properly lesson's, how to wash yourself properly lessons, how to dress yourself lessons, how to turn the page in a book lessons (yes, really. Early years teachers are experiencing DC who can use a smartphone, tablet etc but have never seen a book and think you tap or swipe to open). How to use a knife and fork lessons and on and on.

There are over 10 million DC enrolled in UK schools. That £1 for 3 toothbrushes will add up very quickly 🙄

Reading comprehension not your strong point? I didn't say they should give toothbrushes to every single kid just the ones who have shit parents who refuse to buy their kid a toothbrush, that's a very small minority of the populace btw. It would take like what twenty minutes? every year to give a quick toothbrushing lesson.
If teachers have time to teach kids there's 72 genders theyve got time for toothbrushing lessons.

On the other hand what the hell is school for why don't those lazy parents just teach their own kids maths and literacy. Teachers have enough to do.

Even with free toothbrush and leaflet on what to do I’m not sure it would motivate the right adults

There are some things out there as our primary did get both for some reason in London a few years ago